What valuable lessons have you read about mental health?
Lessons about my mental health have been learnt during the substantial time spent at home due to quarantine.
What is mental health?
Mental health is what we all have to deal with in one way or another. It may also be known as emotional wellbeing. It is how we feel overall; the good and the bad.
Those who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder will have more bad days than good days.
There are a range of mental health disorders, anxiety and depression included.
If you would like to know more about anxiety, click on the following posts below.
What You Need To Know About Anxiety
7 Effective Ways to Cope With Anxiety
What You Need To Know About Depression
Over the summer, I decided to talk to the doctor about how I was feeling. From the age of 14/15, I began experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
I didn’t know much of it at the time. My coping mechanisms were not healthy at all!
Through life experience and many therapy sessions, I have learnt many things about my mental health; triggers, what triggers me and what I want people to know.
Lesson 1: Small things can trigger me
I’m talking about tiny things! I could be in a great mood. Then, I walk into a messy kitchen and almost instantly, my mood changed.
One thing I hate is cleaning up after people that are capable of cleaning up after themselves.
Perhaps this has been a trigger of mine since I’ve spent most of last year in the house, so I’ve become more sensitive to many things.
It’s the principle for me!
When I make a mess, I clean up as I consider that other people will use the vicinity after me; therefore, I will keep it the way I found it, clean.
Once that encounter has happened, thoughts run through my head. Negative thoughts flood my mind, “This is why I can’t stand people. This is why I strongly dislike inconsiderate people. People are so rude!”
Besides, words hold a lot of weight. I may not remember what people do, but I remember what people have said to me.
For some reason, that is how my brain is wired.
Weird but interesting.
After reading an incredible book, The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz, I try to apply the principles to everyday life.
One of the agreements is Don’t Take Anything Personally. Really important, but it isn’t easy at times! I am a sensitive being, so words from people I hold near and dear are nearly impossible not to take personal, but it is doable.
Going forward, I am learning to NOT take words to heart.
Lesson 2: Being annoyed puts me in a mood
I put a lot of pressure on myself. A lot! I have set very high standards for myself. There are so many things that I want to achieve many things, so I aim to work every day to work towards it.
At present moment (February 2021), I do not have a full time job.
Like millions of other people across the world, I lost my jobs due to the pandemic.
This means that I spent most of the past year at home; therefore, I have less stress than if I was working.
To me, I get annoyed when my mood changes. Why? I’m home; I expressed that I felt stressed that the response I received was, “You’re at home. Why are you stressed?”
Just those words alone changed my mood completely.
Everyone expresses stress differently.
What may cause me stress may be a walk in the park to you.
And that is absolutely fine.
Lesson learned, words are words. Yes, they may hurt, but how does the person who said those words feel? They, too, may be stressed out.
Lesson 3: I need space to recharge and recuperate
If I am in nerve-racking and stressful situations, I will need time for myself, and if I don’t have time for myself, I will be on E- empty.
I need to recharge which is a necessity, for introverts as well.
Also, I’m not the biggest talker, so after social situations, I love silence.
What is an introvert?
An introvert (aka me) is someone who is reserved. We are not the most outspoken people at the parties, and we prefer to observe more so that we interact with large groups of people.
If I’m not comfortable in situations or with people that I am comfortable with, I tend to stay in my shell; I’m either on the phone, and secretly, I wish that I was at home in my bed.
When I’m in that headspace, I try to remain present. I think to myself, “This time right here will never happen again. I may never see these people again”.
And I’m cool with that.
If you would like to know more about what it is like being an introvert and what lessons I have learnt about my personality, check out my Youtube video below!
Lesson 4: When I’m feeling depressed, I want to sleep
Recently, I was feeling quite low. The best way to describe it is like there was a dark cloud following me.
I really struggled to accept that I was feeling low. Why? I was doing everything in my power not to feel low.
My self-care routine didn’t stop; meditation, exercising and journaling were all part of my daily routine. At the back of my mind, I had no real reason to feel low.
I had to stop and analyse what had been going on
Although I appeared to have it all together on the outside, I had little to no motivation to do anything. My sleep routine was down pact, but I was so tired.
Most of my days are spent in bed. I know its not ideal for working in the same space you sleep, but its where I feel the most comfortable.
I could write a majority of my master’s thesis in my bed, so it is possible!
However, I had lost mt drive. Every day I aim to accomplish a set amount of tasks on my to-do list. Most of the tasks about work, i.e. working on my blog, Youtube and looking for jobs, and I usually were able to get through the morning, but around lunchtime, I just wanted to sleep
I fight with myself as I just started getting better sleep which took so long for me to control. I don’t want to now disrupt my sleep by sleeping during the day. Now I know that if I must sleep to reset, I’ll try to do the most important tasks quickly and efficiently then have a cat nap if I need it.
Take away
As I learn more about anxiety and depression and the more experiences I have, I learn that I have to make adaptations, take breaks, and disconnect with people and things to cater to my mental health.
What lessons have you learnt about your mental health?
What lessons have you learnt about the mental health of others?
This such a personal and so spot on piece!!! Great read.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post!
Thank you for sharing your struggle.
Thank you for reading!
Interesting post. I too cannot stand people who do not clean up after themselves. It sends me into such a foul mood, and the thoughts could kill.
I can completely relate with the lessons you listed, and as an introvert I’ve come to understand that been picky with who I let into my circle is extremely important, cos they’ll affect my mental health.
Hello, my fellow introvert! Yes, we need to be cautious about who is around us as they can either enhance our wellbeing or cause it to deteriorate. Thank you for reading my post!
One thing i have observed over the years os that people have lived with depression and anxiety 🙃 for years or decades and not know that these are mental health issues they are dealing with. They most often associate these feelings with stress. But Confidantcandy, and many other bloggers and organizations are shedding light on mental health, especially in the African American Community.