Mental Health Awareness Week Oct 7-13 2018
Think of your anxiety as your pet that will always stay by your side. You can keep it tamed but some days when it wants to attack, it’s so hard to control. When you have done all those tricks and tips that everyone writes: meditation, breathing, yoga, exercise, eating healthy, sometimes you just want to call it BS. Your pet rampages wherever you go and you almost feel helpless.
Especially, on days when you know you’re doing your best, and following a good routine, your pet can still take over. There is a way to live peacefully with your pet.
One way is to know your mantra. Your mantra is like the collar on your pet. It wants to run everywhere but that collar you put on it, keeps it from ruining your life. Otherwise without this collar, you could never leave the house.
A mantra is your belief statement. This is the first step in making your life more in your control. The more control the easier it is to live your life.
Need some examples?
“This too shall pass.”
“One thing at a time.”
“I can do this and it’s okay to feel like this.”
“Uncomfortable is ok.”
“Go with the flow.”
Second, plan your life with a whiteboard calendar. Keep in mind, when things DON’T plan out this way say, “it’s okay.” I have found that when I put a calendar whiteboard I can see an overview of my month.
Why a whiteboard?
It turns out that I can control everything for that month, move things around, or erase things then I can better prepare for when things DON’T go my way. Yes you can use your phone, but try for once to not rely on your phone for everything. I can also inject self-care events in my month to help increase my excitement for the event. Anticipation helps minimize those bad anxiety days and helps you look forward to new days. For example, two weekends, we go to the movies or hang out with friends for BBQ. SCHEDULE IS KEY! Scheduling is the little part of life that gives us control.
Third, when you have an off day, bad day, pet-turns-crazy-all-day-long-day, then you need to schedule a mental health day either the following day or the day of from work. For me, the alone time is like solitude in self-care (see prior blog post). There’s rejuvenation, and a sense of collecting yourself back together again. If you can, take a walk in the sun to help increase your Vitamin D intake. The exercise coupled with vitamin D is an immediate symptom reliever.
Notice if you feel sleepy, tired, hungry. Use this alone time to balance the imbalances in your life. Does cleaning help you calm yourself? Does coloring or watching a funny movie help ease your mind? Write those activities on the side space of your whiteboard – an easy go to without even thinking about how to take care of yourself. Does grabbing a friend for a hangout help?
Fourth, it is has been found since the dawn of research that exercise and a strict sleep regime decrease anxiety
as similar to taking anti-anxiety medication. Help Guide Website says
Studies show that exercise can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressant medication—but without the side-effects, of course. In addition to relieving depression symptoms, research also shows that maintaining an exercise schedule can prevent you from relapsing.
Health website recommends the following exercises that have scientifically been proven to decrease anxiety and depression. https://www.health.com/depression/these-are-the-best-exercises-for-anxiety-and-depression
They have even found that 10 mins of walking is equal to 45 mins of an intense workout in relieving anxiety.
So understand anxiety isn't just something you tuck away in your life, but something to embrace. Consider it an accessory to your wardrobe when you go to social outings. Use the power of questioning "what is that?" when anxiety comes instead of shunning from it.
The power of mind, coupled with the power of physical activity, gives you power. Power to control your little pet.
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