Trace x How can I help myself? Mental wellbeing is a phrase that is often used to describe having good mental health. Having good mental health doesn’t necessarily mean being happy all the time, but is about having the ability to cope with difficulties when they arise. Making changes to your lifestyle can help with this, and prevent problems from developing. Connect Feeling connected to other people is important. It can help you to feel valued and confident about yourself, and can give you a different perspective on things. Think about the interactions you have every day, with family, friends, colleagues, neighbours or people you haven’t met before. Spending a little more time on relationships you’re interested in can enrich your life. Be active Activity makes us feel better. Some people enjoy running marathons or playing football, but other people are happier taking a gentle walk or playing with their children. Find something which suits your level of fitness and makes you feel better, and build it into your routine. See Ecominds for details of projects that provide a range outdoor of outdoor green activities for people with mental health problems. Take notice I once told my therapist I could not remember when I last had a whole good day. He told me that a whole good day might be too much to ask for, but that if I looked carefully, I could probably find something good in each day. Be more aware of the present moment. This can mean both outside, in the world around you, and inside, in your feelings and thoughts. Notice the flavours in your evening meal, or the way the sun sets as you leave work. When you slow down and observe, you can catch sight of amazing things, and you can become better at understanding your own reactions and moods. (Visit bemindful.co.uk for further information.) Learn Learning new things can boost your confidence and provide a healthy alternative to negative or stressful thoughts. You might want to work towards a qualification, learn a craft, or a new practical skill like fixing a bike. Taking up a new interest can also be a good way to connect to people, and can open up opportunities you haven’t thought of before. Give It feels good to give. This doesn’t need to involve lots of money; sometimes small things like cooking dinner for a friend can have the biggest impact. You might enjoy volunteering with a charity you support, or just thanking the bus driver at the end of a long day can make you both smile. Learn to assert yourself If you have been taken advantage of, or mistreated in some way, you may find it hard to stand up for yourself. Although it may feel easier just to keep quiet, anger can build up inside, causing tension and anxiety. Assertiveness training classes can improve your ability to handle such situations. See How to improve your self-esteem. Set goals This involves thinking about ways to improve your life. You need to ask yourself, ‘Where would I like to be in a month’s / year’s time?’, ‘What small changes can I begin to make now?’ You might find it helpful to keep a diary and record the progress that you make. Expressing feelings Expressing feelings openly helps you process and recover from hurtful experiences. You might find it helpful to cry, shout or just talk things through with someone outside the situation. Repressing feelings and emotions can cause stress and lead to tension and anxiety. Facing up to problems When things are going wrong for you, it’s tempting to ignore the problem and hope it will go away. It may not. Usually, the quicker you start dealing with a problem, the easier it is to solve. Will I recover? It is possible to recover from mental health problems and many people do. Often people emerge from the experience feeling stronger and wiser and having learnt more about themselves. For many people, recovery does not mean going back to a previous life, but might mean making choices to live differently and having power over areas of life that seemed out of control before. ... The first step was making cups of tea. Admitting that at the time I couldn’t solve my problems or manage much more; But holding on to the idea that one day I would. And I did... I am now married, working full time and looking ahead.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 09:15:18 +0000
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