Things That Help
The three most important things you can do for your mental health are:
1. Take care of your physical health
2. Be compassionate to yourself (and others)
3. Learn to control your impulses
Additionally, there are a variety of things that almost everyone can do that have wide support on a number of different levels. Pick a couple that speak to you and see how different life will feel in two weeks.
Journal: having a place to release your thoughts and feelings in a pure way like writing can have tremendous positive outcomes, and can be a venue for finding new insight as well.
Be Creative: almost everyone has some sort of creative activity, hobby, or play that was a part of their early years. Reconnecting with this or beginning a new endeavor can be transformative in and of itself.
Bibliotherapy: this is a fancy word for reading a book. There are a handful of books for common issues that are often referred to (see Gottman for relationships, Burns for depression, and Bourne for anxiety), but sometimes asking a friend for a recommendation or just browsing the self-help section at the bookstore and grabbing something that connects with you can have a positive impact.
Exercise: being physically active is sometimes referred to as "nature's antidepressants" because of how profound the effect can be on us. If you hate the gym, try to get involved in a team sport or even do something small like taking a walk around your neighborhood, you may be surprised by how well it helps.
Social Support: it is a lot harder to struggle with something in isolation than with someone who cares about you. Pick a close friend, family member, or other person you trust and let them in on what is happening with you.
Meditate/Pray: taking time to connect to yourself or something greater than yourself can have a profound effect on your feelings of peace and wholeness. Try starting with the deep breathing technique discussed in the Anxiety Management section.
1. Take care of your physical health
2. Be compassionate to yourself (and others)
3. Learn to control your impulses
Additionally, there are a variety of things that almost everyone can do that have wide support on a number of different levels. Pick a couple that speak to you and see how different life will feel in two weeks.
Journal: having a place to release your thoughts and feelings in a pure way like writing can have tremendous positive outcomes, and can be a venue for finding new insight as well.
Be Creative: almost everyone has some sort of creative activity, hobby, or play that was a part of their early years. Reconnecting with this or beginning a new endeavor can be transformative in and of itself.
Bibliotherapy: this is a fancy word for reading a book. There are a handful of books for common issues that are often referred to (see Gottman for relationships, Burns for depression, and Bourne for anxiety), but sometimes asking a friend for a recommendation or just browsing the self-help section at the bookstore and grabbing something that connects with you can have a positive impact.
Exercise: being physically active is sometimes referred to as "nature's antidepressants" because of how profound the effect can be on us. If you hate the gym, try to get involved in a team sport or even do something small like taking a walk around your neighborhood, you may be surprised by how well it helps.
Social Support: it is a lot harder to struggle with something in isolation than with someone who cares about you. Pick a close friend, family member, or other person you trust and let them in on what is happening with you.
Meditate/Pray: taking time to connect to yourself or something greater than yourself can have a profound effect on your feelings of peace and wholeness. Try starting with the deep breathing technique discussed in the Anxiety Management section.
