Self-care and mental health are important, especially after 2020; the year of the worldwide pandemic, political divisiveness, and firestorms – Take these steps to ensure your mental wellbeing
Wow, 2020 was a year for the books and not one we will likely forget anytime soon. 2020 was a year of a worldwide pandemic, forest fire storms, political unrest and division, and severe racial tensions. A year that left many on edge, lonely, and unsure about the future.
The stress of 2020 has continued into the new year and there is great concern about the many consequences; one being the impact it’s had on the mental health of so many. Many people report that they now suffer from anxiety and depression if they hadn’t before and those who had, their anxiety and depression have increased.
“We’re hearing from patients whose depression and anxiety was in remission and those symptoms have returned this year due to the stressors”-—Shannon Suo, Physician and Health Science Clinical Professor in the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
How can you take extra care of yourself? Do what you can to take care of your own mental wellbeing!
Follow these easy self-care tips to help your mental health.
- Be kind to yourself and others—we are all dealing with so much right now and it costs us nothing to treat ourselves and others with kindness. Kindness and caring go a long way.
- Be patient and slow down— anxiety, depression, and economic uncertainty make it easy to react with a short fuse but being angry will not help and often makes things worse. Instead, slow down and be patient with others and yourself, remembering that we are all doing the best we can as we navigate an unprecedented time.
- Stay active and move your body—exercise is good for not only your physical health, but it also has a positive impact on your mental wellbeing. Make a focused effort to increase your activity by 10 minutes each day and you will be amazed at the benefits you will feel and see.
- Introduce the practice of mindfulness—whether yoga, meditation, or Tai Chi, carving time out of your day to include the practice of mindfulness helps soothe the mind and soul
- Start a gratitude journal—focusing on joy and gratitude trains your mind to recognize and focus on the good instead of all that is going bad. There is energetic power in focusing all that is positive.
- Pick up a hobby—take the time to develop a hobby, an activity that brings you pleasure and joy.
- Don’t procrastinate—make a list of all the tasks that you have been putting off and tackle one each day. There is a great sense of accomplishment in crossing off the tasks that you complete.
- Focus on getting enough sleep—in times of stress and uncertainty, sleep problems and insomnia can be a problem. Coronasomnia, is a new term that describes sleep issues caused by the stress of the pandemic.
Above all else, ask for help when you need it. That’s what we are told however during the pandemic, even when you ask for help the response time is slow and the ‘asks’ fall through the cracks. It is more important now than ever to act as your own advocate and that might mean asking for help more than once. Don’t stop asking until you get the help you need, you’re worth it.
If you are feeling anxious and depressed, Healing Springs Ranch is here to help you. Like you, every client is different and deserves a personal, customized approach to recovery. Often, that means addiction counseling that emphasizes mental health. At Healing Springs Ranch, comprehensive health is always a priority. Call 866-656-8384 to learn more about what your recovery journey might look like.