Ways To Deal With Your Mental Health

Since May is mental health awareness month, I thought I would write a blog about it, since I have been dealing with anxiety and depression for a few years now.

I believe my anxiety started back in high school, but I had no idea about it, and it just built up over time.

It also did not help suffering from loss, having a hard pregnancy, getting into a huge car accident, and having to spend three months in hospital bed rest (more on that later).

I have had a hard few years, but that does not stop me from trying to do better for myself and my family.

In the next few steps are ways I have managed and am starting to manage my anxiety and depression. I hope some of these can help you as well, because suffering from mental illness is something I do not wish upon anyone even my worst enemy.

If you or anyone you know are suffering from mental health, there are many ways that you can ask for help, including hotlines, google your nearest mental health center, talk to your doctor, and most importantly reach out to someone.

Realization

You might be like me and not even realize you may be suffering from mental illness. I started out by not really being myself.

I noticed that I did not have much pleasure in doing everyday things. I spent most of my days just laying around and not wanting to do the things I used to love doing.

Pay attention to your sleeping schedule. For the life of me I could not get a goodnight sleep, I was up most of the night just thinking about everything and trying to fall asleep to no avail.

I remember going to the hospital on different occasions because I thought I was going to die or have a heart attack. That’s when a doctor just sat down and actually talked to me like a friend.

He told me it sounds like anxiety. That’s when I googled anxiety and it matched with majority of the symptoms I was feeling. I was not dying, I was suffering from panic attacks.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

After realizing what anxiety was, I booked an appointment with my doctor to ask for help. Don’t self diagnose yourself, make sure to go to your health care provider and get diagnosed.

My doctor helped me get in touch with a mental health center and I’m glad I asked for help.

Growing up in a Mexican household, most of us do not believe in mental health. They think it’s not real and most people just tell us to deal with it.

Just know that it is okay to ask for help when you need it. Talk to someone who understands. There are so many resources available.

Therapy

We have been taught that therapy is for crazy people and not to trust therapists. I’m here to say NO! Therapy is good and has helped many people including myself.

Therapy teaches you how to better manage your mental health and ways to help you overcome your challenges.

It feels good to talk to someone, especially someone you know who can help. A big plus is you can talk to them about anything without feeling judged.

Medication

Now there has been so much talk about medication and mental health. People like it and people hate it.

What I hate is when you get judged for using medication to treat your mental health.

Just know that whether you use it or not, it is okay! You are not weak, you are not crazy, you are not less than anyone for using it.

If it helps you and is right for you, go ahead and use it. If it doesn’t help you or your body does not accept it, it is okay. There are other ways to treat it.

Ways To Treat Mental Health

1. Go out: Keeping your mind free is a good way to help your anxiety or depression. Go shopping, go to the park, take a walk, etc.
2. Do something by yourself: Something I learned from therapy was to try new things. Go to a coffee shop and drink your coffee alone. Little by little, if you have anxiety like me, do things by yourself.
3. Reach out to friends: Go out with your friends once in a while. Get lunch with someone, hang out for a bit and just talk about life, I have done this many times and it actually helps me.
4. Get a hobby: Love to do arts and crafts? Do it! Want to learn to draw? Go ahead! There are so many hobbies you can do, why not focus your mind on something?
5. Join Support Groups: Support groups provide reassurance to yourself that you’re not the only one that faces demons. In fact, there are face-to-face groups and online groups. It all depends on what you prefer.

Final Thoughts

These are just some ways I have managed my anxiety and depression. I continue to battle with it, but it is manageable.

Hopefully some of these can help you. Comment below on ways you deal with your mental health.