What helped me...
Still following on the theme of mental health and wellbeing, I thought I would give a few tips, and in no means is this advice, or fact. This is just my opinion and I am not a mental health professional, however these are things that have helped me on my road to recovery.
1. Breathe, I know that sounds like a nonsense, however how many of us actually breath properly and I know when I was in crisis or in an attack of anxiety my breathing patterns were often all over the place. Our heart rate and anxiety trigger points are directly linked to our breathing, and often our mind can be soothed by concentrating on our breathing. I used various breathing exercises that I found on You Tube including soothing rhythm breathing. I still use these everyday now.
2. Acknowledge your thoughts and try not to suppress and bottle these up. When we have quiet periods in our days our mind will often wonder and our thoughts may be disturbed by some pretty horrible and self destructive thoughts. One thing I have been doing my whole life is to try and hide them, and keep them locked up. These horrible thoughts would surface every now and again and I would push them further deeper. The use of mindfulness has helped me focus my mind and almost appreciate the thoughts are part of me, but not to allow them to take over my mind.
3. Take time for you, I am the first to admit that I am my own worst enemy from suffering with imposter syndrome and social anxiety. I am a people pleaser and will always go out of my way to ensure that everyone around me is ok, and I am doing as much as I can for others to ensure that they see me in the best possible light. I want and crave that attention and not in a self serving or selfish way, but it makes me feel like I am achieving. I hate the thoughts of people not liking me, and for years this has caused me to neglect myself and to focus on the needs of others and not myself. I have for the last few years stopped and thought about myself, and I give myself that little time I need for reflection and relaxation. For me, being a full time employee and a busy mum of 2 children I enjoy nothing better than a hot bath and a read of a book. In the past I felt guilt for this as there is always something or someone that deserves my attention more than I do, and following a course on compassion focused therapy at the start of 2021, I realised that I was just as important as everyone else. I now take that time and I use it to improve my own mindfulness and reflect upon the day.
Ultimately, none of this is simple and it is so hard at times to focus on yourself, but you must make time, realise that you are a beautiful human and you have an impact on the lives of people that love you and surround you. Never underestimate you! and be kind to you!
