Mental Health Resources ♡

 

Mental Health Resources: What has helped me

Here is a list of resources I find to be helpful for dealing with anxiety and mental health issues:

1.) Author Louise Hay's books and website on the power of self-love and how it can heal every area of your life. This book is what first lead me towards recovery from anxiety disorders, phobias, and other mental health issues. Even if you don't agree with everything the [late] author wrote about in her books and website, the emphasis on loving and accepting oneself is truly beneficial and life-changing. It has changed my life around for the better, and it continues to do so. I'm still learning more and growing every day!

2.) NAMI website: NAMI is the "National Alliance on Mental Illness," the nation’s largest mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. They have great resources and offer support for those dealing with mental health issues in the U.S., including helplines and what to do in a crisis. They also list ways that people can advocate for others who are struggling with mental illness. You are not alone!

3) Positive Affirmations: Repeating self-confidence and empowerment affirmations has helped me a lot with dealing with anxiety and ruminating. It helps me to focus on the positive and distracts me from my fears, negative thinking and self-criticism. It is also very motivating for me. It can be very helpful to write them down and place them where you can see them as a reminder.

4) Positive Self-Talk: This is extremely important! Talk to yourself the way you would to a close friend or loved one (and remember to stick with it!). There is nothing worse than continuously criticizing and doubting yourself. Trust me; I've had lots of practice! Be sure to write down reminders as it can be easy to get distracted by everyday life. Treat yourself with compassion, forgiveness, and be proud of yourself for trying and never giving up. Be your own friend and ally. Give yourself compliments, encouragement and praise.

5) Vision Boards: I love creating vision boards through Pinterest to help motivate, uplift and inspire me to reach my goals in life! It can also be a fun way to simply relax and get your creativity flowing. There's no wrong way to do it, and you don't need to be a talented artist to create one. Plus, it doesn't cost anything! 

6) Meetup Website: I have found this website to be helpful in finding/creating local groups to meet up with regularly with people of common interests (just make sure to be safe and that it's located in a public place!). I have been a part of local art meetups and went to one for people with social anxiety (and made life-long friendships along the way!). 

What are your favorite mental health resources that you recommend to other people? I'd love to hear them! 🩷

The Importance of Positive Self-Talk

 

I've been doing well the past couple of months with using and keeping up with my positive (self-love and empowerment) affirmations. Yet the other day they didn't seem to resonate with me for some reason, and I got frustrated. 

What if I can never believe my affirmations enough to continue on my journey to self-confidence and finally finding peace and fulfillment in my life? I kept debating on the best way to get over this slump and change my mindset again. I regularly switch up my affirmations I use for this very reason, and I keep a list of them with me on my phone (in my notes app) at all times. If I don't believe in them, they have the opposite effect that I'm looking for: self-doubt and criticism. 

After ten or fifteen minutes going through this in my head (eventually heading towards rumination and wondering if I should just stay home that day), I finally remembered another valuable strategy: positive self-talk.  How did I forget this? I know why: I get too distracted by my thoughts, daily struggles (who doesn't from time to time?), and to-do lists that I end up forgetting it. 

So I changed tactics and began to talk to myself the way you would with a friend or loved one: with compassion, patience, and encouragement. I looked at the positive: how far I've come, how I've never given up, and how I'm trying to do good in the world by helping other people who are struggling like I am. 

I instantly felt a sense of peace and wonderment: if I'm able to change my mood around that quickly and end up having a good day (when I was so tempted to give up and stay home, while criticizing myself and getting mad at the unfairness of life), then what else am I capable of?...💕💕💕

 

The Sun is Finally Out! 😉☀️

  

Hope you all had a good weekend! I'm not sure what the winter weather is like where you live, but here in Central New York it has been dark and cloudy for eleven days straight the past week! (It's finally out again! ☀️) A lot of people have been saying how tired and unmotivated they've been lately (myself included), and it's no wonder why that is.

How do you all deal with the winter blues?

Here are some ideas that I find helpful:

1) Vision Boards: I personally love to go on Pinterest and create a vision board of all of my favorite things that motivate, uplift or inspire me. Including photographs of sunshine by the beach!

2) Skin Care Routine: Having a regular skin care routine helps me both to relax and to get extra moisturizing in for dry winter skin. 

3) Wearing Bright Colors: Maybe this is an artist thing, but I always feel better when I'm wearing bright colors and jewelry, especially on a cloudy day.

4) House Decorating: Decorating my house with bright colors (such as red and pink for Valentine’s Day) always brightens my mood (pun not intended). Buying fresh flowers is also a great idea (unfortunately I can't since I have a cat 😹).

5) Get Out and Have Fun: Get out as often as you can, even just to run errands. Make sure that you're not isolating yourself, and spend some time with family and friends. This will give you a burst of energy as well as a warm feeling of connection with others. Also, try to soak up whatever sunlight you can, even if it's just sitting by a window.

Enjoy your week, and stay warm!~ 🌞