Everyone is now talking about mental health – it’s become a “woke thing.” However, unless you’ve had some real form of mental illness – anxiety, depression, bipolar, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, personality disorders, mood disorders, and eating disorders – only then can you truly relate when I say this: nothing in this world can torment you as much as your own words. It’s an uphill battle that you may have to fight more than once. Because we know what it’s like to fight such an uphill battle, we also know (in our hearts) that our mental illness do not define who we are as a person, it explains it.
Mental health and wellness is not a destination but a process. It’s all about how we drive, not the destination. It is up to us today to make healthy options. Choices that’s not just healthy for our bodies, but also for our minds. To that one soul reading this article: I know you are exhausted. You are down and broken. You’re fed up and already on the verge of giving up. Please don’t ever give up. There’s inner strength within you even at your weakest. It is important that you must keep fighting.
Life is tough. It’s become even tougher during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you are cooped up inside your home with your own bubble feeling anxious and paranoid, or isolating on your own and you’re experiencing boredom, loneliness, and depression, or feeling tired and overwhelmed because you’re taking care of elders who are vulnerable to the virus, living 24/7 with your partner and it’s driving you both crazy, or stressed out and burnt out from taking care of young children and home-schooling — COVID-19 has definitely turned our lives upside down. The fear of catching the virus and the real paranoia of whether we are going to survive it or not; that guilty feeling one gets if we are asymptomatic and we unknowingly pass it on to our loved ones; and that anxious feeling of how are we going to make ends meet when we have lost our jobs because of this pandemic. Suddenly, the word “tough” has become quite an understatement.
Fret not. It’s still not the end of the world. Because of all the crappy things I’ve gone through in life, I’ve developed immunity to all the negativity that permeates my world. I’ve hit rock bottom several times in life, so I’ve learned to view life as a glass half filled with tequila or champagne. Please allow me to share with you a few tips on how to keep sane amidst life’s daily chaos.
- Seek professional medical help from your family physician. There’s a limit to the help that you will get from your family or friends. It’s not fair for them to be your punching bags. You have to get the courage to get the help that you need on your own. Only you can help yourself. Talk to your family physician and get a referral for a therapist or psychiatrist. Your doctor might also prescribe you medication to take.
- Take your medication as prescribed by your doctor.Some people will argue that biotech and pharmaceutical companies are taking advantage of your medical conditions and that it’s just one big pharmaceutical business. Sorry, but personally, I beg to disagree on this one. Prescribed medications can actually help you with your mental illness. It may not cure you 100%, but it can definitely help you deal and live with your mental illness on a daily basis. That’s a huge help for those living with mental illness. Think about this for a minute and let it sink in: if Van Gogh had taken medication for his illness — would the world have been deprived of a creative genius?
- Have regular sessions with your therapist or psychiatrist.A mental health professional may provide a fresh perspective on an issue. They can give people a better understanding of their own emotions. Therapists can also teach communication skills to convey those emotions. Therapy can promote one’s self-esteem, relationships, and outlook on life.
- Eat healthy meals. Eat foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These and other foods have been shown to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia, depression, attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder, and other mental disorders. Eat a lot of proteins and cruciferous vegetables for a balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly. Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on depression, anxiety, ADHD, and more. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts your overall mood. And you don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to reap the Start with stretching exercises, and a little bit of cardio exercises — treadmill, bike, and the stair master for at least 45 minutes a day.
- Yoga and lots of it! Yoga increases body awareness, relieves stress, reduces muscle tension, strain, and inflammation, sharpens attention and concentration, and calms and centers the nervous system. Yoga’s positive benefits on mentalhealth have made it an important practice tool of psychotherapy.
- Get plenty of shuteye!Sleep is as important to our health as eating, drinking, and breathing. It allows our bodies to repair themselves and our brains to consolidate our memories and process information. Poor sleep is linked to physical problems such as a weakened immune system and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
- Get lots of love from dogs and cats. Oh yes, nothing beats dog or cat therapy! I have my hair done weekly. I go to my hairstylist every week mainly because I like to go and pet her beloved pug, Edison! He loves me and the feeling is extremely mutual. We can hardly wait to see each other every Saturday afternoon. Scientific research has shown that pets, especially dogs and cats, can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health. Caring for an animal can help children grow up more secure and active. Pets also provide valuable companionship for older adults.
- Meditate and simply breathe and exhale. The mental health benefits of meditation include better focus and concentration, improved self-awareness and self-esteem, lower levels of stress and anxiety, and fostering kindness. Meditation also has benefits for your physical health, as it can improve your tolerance for pain and help fight substance addiction.
- Take up a hobby. Creativity reduces anxiety, depression, and stress. It can also help you process trauma. Studies have shown that writing helps people manage their negative emotions in a productive way, and painting or drawing helps people express trauma or experiences that they find too difficult to put into words.
- Spread kindness one day at a time.Psychologically, acts of kindness make us feel grateful, empathetic, and compassionate. These are positive feelings that give us a sense of belonging and community. Biologically, kindness releases chemicals like the “love hormone,” oxytocin, which helps us form social bonds based on trust.
- Make this your daily mantra: it’s the little things that matter the most.Don’t miss out on sunsets. Don’t deny yourself that scoop of your favourite ice cream! Literally stop and smell the roses. Hug your loved ones. Above all, be grateful each time you wake up in the morning — be grateful for another day on planet earth!
- Teach yourself this lesson: see life as a glass half full of champagne or tequila! You’ve seen the worst of the extremely worst. How much worse could it be? When you’ve hit rock bottom, change your perspectives in life. View it as a glass half full of champagne or tequila and you’d be surprised to see how life could actually be surprisingly beautiful!
You no longer have to struggle in silence. Mental illness does not define a person living with it — a person’s inner strength and courage does. To anyone living with mental illness: you are one badass survivor because nothing is more horrifying than battling with your own thoughts every single day.