7 Mental Health Care Tips
I was raised in a Community that scoffs at the idea of mental illness. I suppose to some degree, a large portion of society still views mental illness as a foreign concept. A concept that perceives depression or anxiety as a condition that is within our control. A state of mind that we are expected to quickly shake off. This nonchalant viewpoint became the reason why for most of my life, I did not identify my symptoms as symptoms related to mental health issues– I thought, I just hated myself, but It was not a condition 🤷🏽♀️.
After years of this cultural conditioning and struggling daily with the battle in my mind, I relented. I sought medical help and was subsequently diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. Finally understanding that these emotions are very real and very crippling, I succumbed to this affliction and as a result refused to take any form of medication as a personal preference. I chose to find alternative coping mechanisms to “deal” with life that proved to be temporarily effective, and ultimately unhealthy and detrimental to my health and spirit. I had to find a more permanent solution, one which reduced the risk of addiction and dependency on substances and medication to get by.
Below are a list of the beneficial tips that helped me through my tumultuous journey with mental illness and how I managed to discover true peace of mind.
Find Your Happy Place!
“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart: the commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” Psalm 19:8
Growing up in a broken home and witnessing the physical and emotional abuse my mother was subjected to was the catalyst of my fractured mind. My mode of escape from a very young age was reading and recreating these other worldly stories in my mind. My head was quite literally always up in the clouds. Made up characters, elaborate story lines and plots not only sparked my creative prowess but became my happy place. As a result my ability to acquire knowledge and think outside of my very stifling box was harnessed.
I highly encourage the Reader to find something that allows you to get out of your head now and again- a blissful oasis from your chaotic thoughts makes daily living a bit more bearable when in a dip:
- Reading of course! 😜
- Writing i.e.: Journaling, Poetry, Fiction or Blogging 🙈
- Listening to music
- Social interaction – spend time with family and friends.
- Exercise
- Creative crafting – make something new! 😃
Be To Others What You Need To Be To Yourself
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8
Offering compassion and support to someone else when you are not in the best mental space is a very difficult but humbling act. Struggling to maneuver around this, I felt that whenever I was at my worst, mentally, I became confronted with the needs of others. It was the strangest thing. It was as though my depressed state was a beacon, calling anyone who needed to be uplifted and encouraged, signaling them in my direction. I found myself in scenarios that quite literary forced me to be kinder, and show love to someone in need of it, even when I thought I had no love or kindness to give.
Giving of myself to others as difficult as it was, made me feel better about myself. I am not going to lie, a life dedicated to the wellbeing and best interests of others is mentally and physically taxing. However, subconsciously it brings us peace. We were created to respond with mercy, love and kindness to one another, it is innately within us to feel good about doing something good for someone else especially when you do not feel so good yourself. As warped as it sounds, selflessness is truly rewarding, and can often help us find perspective – giving us the reprieve we need from our jaded minds.
Here are a few things you could do to focus on the needs of others, instead of self:
- Call or text to check on a friend
- Say encouraging words
- Listen rather than talk
- Allocate time to bond
- Be dependable and trustworthy
- Show affection
- Offer help
Generosity Gives Back
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed Proverbs 11:25
Generosity is not only contagious but incredibly rewarding. When we give freely and selflessly, we set into motion a flow of joy that must be shared – it turns into a gift that keeps on giving.
Generosity should not be limited to giving materialistically, it is more than only giving back in monetary means, but rather the most generous acts are invaluable when they are intangible. In the past, giving anything away made me feel like I was robbing myself of something however in understanding and adopting the below principles I began loosening the reins on my personal gain by giving back a little more. This helped me let go – of more than my finances, time and space – it helped me let go of my mind. The more I gave, the more I started to receive.
Here are a few ideas of how you can be more Generous:
- Giving up your time to someone in need of counsel and advice
- Opening your home or private space to a friend
- Buying someone a meal
- Offering up your valuables to someone in need
- Forgiving
A Friend For Keeps
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Thessalonians 5:11
A true friend is dependable and should always be treasured. They are a companion and confidant through all walks of life. I am incredibly blessed to have found these qualities in my older sister, who not only is the best sister alive (no bias 😜) but is the perfect example of what true bonded friendship looks like.
There is nothing like doing life with someone who not only has your best interest at heart but loves you unconditionally. Wisdom in dealing with a mental affliction is not isolated to only seeking guidance from a therapist or a certified Medical Practitioner. Someone personally invested in your happiness, can also be suited to see you through a difficult ordeal. By using an enlightening, relatable approach that offers honest solutions. I encourage the Reader to foster friendships that are loving and supportive. Surround yourself with people you can trust, who you can feel safe with, who have your best interests at heart. Someone who can positively shift your state of mind and perspective in pivotal moments, encouraging you to do the same for them. Someone genuine, someone pure, this kind of person is for keeps.
Fine Tune Your Skills
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
Our passions, skills and talents begin to surface when we are young. I remember quite vividly reading my first book at the age of 4 and the emotions it evoked in me. I literally felt like Alice when she fell in the Rabbit hole and discovered a whole new world of wonder, it was a life changing experience. My very own world of make believe.
We start identifying our purpose through our unique gifts and skills. What seems like childish thoughts and pipe dreams should never be disregarded or ignored. As a case in point in this matter, I never thought my love or rather obsession 😊 with reading would encourage me to write and later start a Blog, yet here we are!
I believe what scares or intimidates us is what we were created to conquer, succeed and thrive in. These skills like any good thing in life, need to be nurtured and cultivated.
If you are uncertain of what your skills are, below are some questions that may help you identify them and how to use these abilities to generate and sustain optimism:
- What are you passionate about?
- List your hobbies and interests.
- Identify what makes you truly happy.
- Ask close friends and relatives their honest opinion of you.
- If it were not about making money, what would you love doing everyday of your life?
- Figure out what you willingly spend your time and money on.
- What develops your character?
- What makes you valuable to others?
Say Thank You More Often
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”1 Thessalonians 5:18
It is incredibly easy to take life for granted. As someone who struggled with living in general, gratitude can and will get lost when your view on life is constantly pessimistic.
Learning gratitude starts when you notice all that you have as opposed to the single thing that you do not have. If you noticed I compared what we have as plural to what we do not have as singular because in retrospect there is A LOT more, we should be grateful for instead of being focused on what we do not have. We always get caught up in our lack but once we grasp that there is much more freely given to us daily, our perception shifts significantly. A shift in perception is a gateway to a positive mindset.
Actively practice gratitude by taking the time to make a list of the things or people in your life you would never be able to do without. When we realize what we have already, it becomes easier to stop focusing on what we don’t have, which is often what leads to pessimistic views that spiral into mental chaos.
The Prince of Peace
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14: 27
Although steps 1-7 alleviated the turmoil in my head through the most difficult and painful times in my life, my healing was ultimately experienced through the grace and love of Jesus Christ. I was never a devote believer or an avid church goer. I did nothing to deserve His Grace, I merely received it because I had no hope left or will to try. Because of His unfailing love, the wretch that I am was still delivered from this mental bondage.
I want to encourage the Reader that even though my experience with mental illness has led me to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, my journey is not a prescription to yours. We all walk the path to healing differently. What matters most is our desire to ultimately get to a place of peace. I fully acknowledge and understand that how one lives through mental illness varies and is incomparable to another. My desire is to share hope through alternative options apart from what is easily prescribed by society. Means and methods that encourage the Reader to understand that they are not as useless and inadequate as this affliction makes them seem to be. That when applied, peace of mind is attainable.
After years of frustration, deceit and bitter resentment, Jesus Christ proved to be my Happy Place, a Selfless Savior, a Gracious God, Generous and Merciful in His love for me, the Perfect Friend and the most Skilled Creator. His Grace was my ultimate hope and continues to be that for me every day. If you have not given your life to Him yet, if you have tried everything but you still cannot find mental peace and have reached the end of yourself, I encourage you to say the following prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen
If you are willing, join me next week to see what other topics I will be discussing to inspire, motivate and encourage the reader to ARISE.
