It was a taboo subject for many years and carried a stigma for far too long. Having a ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’ is a fantastic way to bring this subject to the forefront of people’s minds ? and to open conversations making it easier for people to talk about it. Shining light on how it can be helped and how maybe you can help yourself or your family too ????
In the next few paragraphs, I hope to inspire you to take action and address your own mental health and that of your loved ones.
We all have ‘Mental Health’ just as we have our ‘Physical Health’. We go through periods in our lives where we are physically fitter ? than other times because we look after ourselves better, by exercising ⛹?♀️ and eating well ? We also do this with our Mental Health too.
Contrary to popular belief, our brains are not a muscle, but an organ. A very complex one at that! It’s just easier to think of it as a muscle that can be exercised – which is quite simply a metaphor.
So how CAN we look after our Mental Health?
First of all, I believe that our Mental Health goes up and down like a yoyo. We all have periods of time in our lives where we are more happy and content – and other times when we are down and despondent, overthink things, and have negative thought patterns. This can last from a few minutes or hours to a few days, and this is perfectly normal ⏰ The problems come when this ‘down & despondent’ time goes on and on, and spirals out of control because it’s not addressed. This is when it can lead to anxiety and depression. There are a number of different anxiety disorders such as Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Health Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Specific Phobias and Panic Disorder. Poor Mental Health can, but doesn’t always necessarily, lead to Mental Illness if it’s not looked after.
Mental Illness however, is broad-spectrum because there are disorders such as Bi-Polar, ADHD, Personality Disorder, and Schizophrenia to name but a few.
I would like to look at how you can help yourself from overthinking and the negative thought patterns, which can so easily set in. Giving you some suggestions that may help raise your vibrational energy, and give you a more positive outlook on life ?
Before becoming a Hypnotherapist and Life Coach, I suffered terrible bouts of anxiety and depression all through my life ☹️ However, in the last 10 years I have been able to banish these negative thought patterns, and reframe even some of the worst times in my life. For example, 2 years ago when I lost my beautiful Mum to Fibrosis of the Lung, and when my Husband got hit by a car and ended up in Intensive care with a broken neck and pelvis. Now I’m not saying I didn’t cry, wasn’t upset, nor worried. After all I’m only human. I knew in my heart these feelings would pass, and throughout these times I remained optimistic and my glass was always half full.
An Attitude of Gratitude…
One of the exercises I did every day, was sitting and writing ✍️ as many things as I could that I was grateful for. Writing a ‘Gratitude List’ is an amazing way to lift your emotions, thoughts and feelings and what is known to many as ‘raising your vibrational energy’. It makes you think about the things and the people you do have in your life…….remember “your energy flows where your focus goes.”
When my ‘vibe’ is low I have a jar and get my pad of post-it’ notes out. At the end of every day I write 3 things on separate ‘post it’s’ of what I was grateful for, or what went well that day. I like to use a clear jar and use lots of different colour ‘post it’s’ then if and when I’m having a low thought or day I put my hand into the jar and pull out 1 or 2 of the notes. I read it. Sit with it. Bring back all the thoughts, feelings and emotions attached to it. This can be incredibly powerful. It doesn’t have to be a life-changing experience, even the smallest of things can bring great pleasure; having a cuppa with a close friend ☕️?❤️? taking a walk in nature and stopping to smell the roses, or reminiscing over old photos. I think because of the pandemic more people are becoming aware of the so-called ‘smaller/simpler’ things in life, which can only be a good thing. Personally I’ve always marvelled at sunrises, sunsets and rainbows! ?
When I wake up, the first thing I do is set a clear intention. I choose what sort of a day I’m going to have ☀️
The words ‘I get to choose’ change everything. Now, I’m not saying for one minute that things don’t go wrong, or that I don’t lose my rag at times. I’m only human after all.
For example, yesterday I started writing this blog, but everything I wrote didn’t sit well with me. In the end, albeit very late I gave up. I was very tired and irritated that I hadn’t finished my blog as I had intended to that morning. I meditated and slept on it and this morning I woke up with a renewed energy and thought process. Then BOOM! Life got in the way and I ended up having an accident with a jug of fresh orange juice, which fell over in the fridge, but also managed to drip down the door and onto the floor. Who knew 8ozs of fresh orange juice could make such a mess! My vibrational energy plummeted and I felt like crap, rushing to clear it up while huffing, puffing and moaning. I had managed to give myself an extra job when all I wanted to do was write this blog…..CUE a 10 minute meditation with Deepak Chopra’s gorgeous velvety tones and I was right back on track!
Life, in general, is so busy we don’t always manage to find the time to dedicate to ourselves. During this pandemic people have been given time to reflect on what is important, but also time to worry ?
‘This too shall pass’ (learnt that mantra from Deepak too!) So, be kind to yourself, practice self care and love. We may never experience a time like this again, where we have been forced to slow down and spend copious amounts of time with those closest to us, or on our own.
I’ll leave you with a quote from the late, great American author and motivational speaker, Wayne Dyer:
“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change”
Sue ?
#mentalhealthawarenessweek #mentalhealth #blog
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