All tagged mental health

Mental Illness Can Ruin a Lot of Things But Also Make Things Special

Mental illness can ruin a lot of things.

It can make finding or keeping a job hard. It can make starting new relationships, whether platonic or romantic really scary. It can end friendships and break hearts. It can make functioning without alcohol or drugs seem impossible. It can make getting out of bed a daunting task. It can make food the enemy and excessive exercise a savior. It can keep someone caught up in thoughts that swirl around and never stop, using all her energy. It can end lives prematurely.

Mental illness can ruin a lot of things.

But it can also make a lot of things special.

Coronavirus Quarantine & Self Care

I always think taking care of one’s mental health is important, not just during a pandemic. That looks different for everyone and can range from medication to running daily to eating a specific diet or regular therapy sessions. I think people should use “sick” days at work for mental health breaks and should feel empowered to talk about mental illness. Now, in this uncertain time of quarantine, social distancing and daily fear of contracting a deadly illness, I think taking care of your mental health is more important than ever! 

I wanted to share what I am doing to look after my mental health and practice self care in the hopes it might help someone else!

Handling Anxiety in a Job I Don't Love

I’ve gotten to a point where if not for my great colleagues I’d dread going into the office each day. It’s not because I hate my job! I actually like what I do and enjoy it but the flawed metrics and standards the employees are held to are incredibly deflating and discouraging. My job is making my anxiety spike waaaay more than it should. So here is how I’ve been coping with anxiety in the workplace.

Self Care Night

I have been out of sorts for a little over a week. Anxious. Worried. Grumpy. Sad. There were many things factoring into it while at the same time nothing was a factor. I’ve said it before but sometimes I just get off for a while without any real warning or reason.

To combat that, I forced myself to have a Self Care Night last week.

Mental Health Vacation

I wish that everyone had the fortune of taking a month off work to travel. Or even a week. And it wouldn’t have to be some huge trip to Australia like I had. It could be to a city that is just a few hours away by car. I just wish that everyone could get away from the “real world” for a short while. Take a mental health vacation.