If you have ever experienced a bad patch with regards to your mental health, you’ll know more than anyone that it’s important to get yourself back on track as quickly as possible. Rocky mental health is a lived experience, rather than a label; it’s about how you feel and react to certain situations. If you’ve been through ups and downs and want to stay well going forward, the considerations discussed in this post will help you to cope in tried and tested ways. Whether you’re looking for natural ways to enhance your mental health, or you’re hoping to arm yourself with strategies for the future, there are so many reasons why you might want to prepare now. Mental health histories can shape how you move through life, so having this awareness brings responsibility, but also empowerment to you when you take action. Managing your mental health is all about having foresight, rather than living in fear. With this in mind, here are eight considerations that focus on practical, lived experience so that you can keep your mental health in check.
1. Accept That Your Mental Health Needs May Change
First of all, you need to begin to accept that your mental health needs may change over time. There is no one size fits all prescription to help you feel better overnight and what worked once in your life may not work forever. You may go through a number of different life changes, experience different stresses and walk through a whole host of environments which may cause your needs to shift. With this in mind, it’s important to avoid comparisons to other people around you; your journey and progress is completely unique to you and cannot be compared. When you embark on ongoing self-assessment this should be considered as a strength as it provides you with as much knowledge as possible about how you’re feeling at any given time.
2. Know When Extra Support is Worth Taking Seriously
Seeking out extra support is an excellent consideration to make when you have a history with your mental health. Proactive intervention and structured support can help you to feel at ease at all times so that deeper setbacks are prevented as much as possible. You may find that a comprehensive rehab treatment is the best way forward if you are going through a difficult period with drug or alcohol misuse. Sometimes outpatient support isn’t enough during these harder times. Spending some time in a comprehensive, structured treatment environment can offer stability, routine and clinical oversight so that you can make a positive recovery. You can also benefit from individualized care plans, therapeutic approaches and holistic support, so that you always have access to long term tools in the future.
3. Pay Attention to Your Personal Warning Signs
Being astute and playing close attention to your personal warning sign will help you to nip any potential issues in the bud. Pay close attention to emotional, behavioral, and physical indicators that your mental health may be taking a dip. You can keep track of this through journaling or personal check-ins with yourself. You may also feel comfortable sharing these warning signs with the people you trust so that they can support you if you ever feel vulnerable.
4. Choose Your Environment Carefully
Every place and person that you choose to spend time with can matter. Your work, relationships and living situations truly matter, so choose your environment carefully. If you’re in a high-stress, or chaotic environment it can destabilize your progress so take note of these moments. When you create calm, predictable spaces it can support regulation. Create these boundaries for yourself as a form of self-care and be picky about where you hang out; it can have a big impact!
5. Be Honest About Coping Mechanisms
If you’re turning to potentially harmful coping mechanisms such as substance use, avoidance, overworking or isolation you need to be honest with yourself when this is happening. There are healthy coping mechanisms that are going to be much more beneficial to you such as better nutrition, journaling, exercise and positive sleep routines. Replacing these coping habits gradually rather than perfectly will help you to self reflect in a compassionate way rather than feel any sense of shame.
6. Build a Support System You Can Actually Use
When you have a good support system, your mental health challenges will suddenly feel much easier to handle. On the same note, not all support needs to be emotional and intense. Try to identify who to call, text or sit with when you need to. Whether you’re looking into peer support, or you require further professional support, all of these options can help you to build a positive support system during times of need.
7. Prepare for Setbacks Without Catastrophizing
Being ready and able to prepare for setbacks without catastrophizing these issues will help you to move forward in a positive way with your mental health. Setbacks don’t erase any progress you’ve already made, so don’t feed into any inner negativity. Relapses in mood or behaviour are information that can help you move forward. Having a response plan during these moments can reduce feelings of panic too. When you shift your focus towards recovery rather than avoiding it, everything will feel so much easier to handle.
8. Define What Stability Means for You
Take a minute to define what stability means for you, because it doesn’t necessarily mean constant happiness. Try to identify your own markers of balance; this is a brilliant measurement to have on your radar. Look at your energy levels, sleep patterns, emotional regulation and connections. Revisit these definitions as your life evolves too so that it’s always as up to date as possible.
Final Thoughts
All of the considerations mentioned above will help you to work through your feelings from a place of knowledge. Living with a mental health history requires action and intention rather than fear; there is nothing to be afraid of when there is so much support available. With thoughtful planning, you can support your long-term wellbeing and ensure you always have coping mechanisms at hand. With your support structure you can build a sense of strength and become extremely self-aware of all of your triggers and emotions in certain scenarios. All of these experiences should be viewed as expert insights rather than limitations, so take all of the knowledge you have about yourself and feel empowered to support yourself through this journey.
Want to unlock greater wellness?
Listen to our friends over at the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast to unlock your best self with Dr. John Lieurance; Founder of MitoZen; creators of the ZEN Spray and Lumetol Blue™ Bars with Methylene Blue.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.