We all have mental Health just as we all have physical health.
We also all have good days and bad days – we might have an argument with a partner or make a mistake at work; both of these things can affect our mood. But there are a number of things which can have a negative impact on our well-being, and not always within our control; events like bereavement, redundancy or a relationship break up can all take their toll. At least 1 in 4 people will experience poor mental health during the year; this includes experiencing stress, anxiety and depression.
There are many things which might be helpful for you, everyone is different so what helps one person might not another. Here are just three tips which might be useful (you may also find more here):
- How you feel is valid. Feelings of sadness or worry are normal when we’re going through difficult times, though we may try and push them away or hide them from others if we worry we’ll be judged. You’re allowed to feel what you feel, and it’s ok to ask for what you need. If work is a contributing factor, then you may decide to speak to a manager about workload. If it’s a relationship or money problems, you may reach out to an agency that can support you. Here is a list of agencies that might be able to help.
- Write things down. Some people find writing a journal helps, even if just to note the things they’re glad about, or what progress they’ve made in a day. They don’t have to be big things; if all you managed to do was get up and get dressed that can be a win on the difficult days. You might also decide to make a note of the things that need action; setting compassionate goals can be a meaningful way to achieve even the little things, or you may decide to dream bigger and create a vision for the future you want. Don’t use your journal to beat yourself up though, think of it more as a safe space to reflect and explore what you need that’s healthy for you.
- Take care of the ordinary. On the bad days, even the little things can feel a lot, even eating or getting some sleep. You may decide to create a Well-being Action Plan (there’s a free download below) to help you make self-care a priority. You might start with setting an intention to brush your teeth or plan your favourite meal. You might decide to join a mindfulness class or even take up a new hobby like photography. If there are things you’ve stopped doing that you used to enjoy, see if you can create a plan for doing those things again.
You’re not alone and help is available. There are many charities available locally and nationally, who can provide free listening services and speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental health (the video from Mind below might help), especially if bad days outweigh the good ones. If you’re having trouble accessing your doctor right now, you may find this article useful; agencies like Healthwatch are also there to help. The Samaritans are also available 24 hours a day on 116 123.
You might also like Monday Mojo™, my weekly newsletter which aims to help you get your sparkle back; you can subscribe using the button below. For information about mental health awareness training for your organisation get in touch.
My book Answers In The Dark is out now, available on Amazon and Hive.
Copyright Delphi Ellis
Helping You Sparkle™ 