Be Kind to Yourself
It's often our default to be hard on ourselves, especially for those struggling with their mental health. It's easy to get into a slump and cycle of feeling like you're not good enough, thinking things like 'why can't I be 'normal''. But really maybe these mental health 'flaws' make you a more caring person, more aware of the feelings of others. Maybe we have the most love to give, it's time to give yourself a break!
It's a hard tactic to learn but try to be kind to yourself.
You didn't choose to have a mental health disorder. Whether it's OCD, anxiety, depression or one of the many others you can not help the hardships it inflicts on your life.
Give yourself a pat on the back for getting up and making it to work on a Monday, because hell, that struggle is real!
You made it to the end of a really really hard day, that's an achievement!
You put on a brave face and went to a social event even though the thought of meeting new people and talking about yourself to people you don't really know made you want to die a little inside, well done!
People struggling with mental health are some of the strongest people out there, because besides all of the chaos going on inside, we still try, we still get up, we still get on with things. And jeez, some days it would be a lot easier just to stay in bed!
Remember that even though your problems may not seem as big as someone else's, they are YOUR problems and they have an impact on you and YOUR health, that's nothing to be ashamed about.
Acknowledge the way you are feeling, accept that it's ok to feel that way and then take tiny steps to making yourself feel a little better.
Set your alarm 10 or 15 minutes earlier in the morning and give yourself that extra time to sit down with a cup of tea before you rush out the door.
Create a playlist of songs that make you feel good and listen to this on your commute.
If you're having a bad day treat yourself to something nice for dinner that evening.
Get lost in a book, this can be a great distraction from intrusive thoughts.
Go for a walk, make a mental note of all of the things that cross your path that you are grateful for. Sometimes I will go for a walk, only 10 minutes or so from my house where I can see the London skyline from a hill and I think to myself 'I made it to London all by myself and I've managed to stick it out for 6 years' and then I think of the things I love about living here and the achievements I've made along the way, even if they are small.
You may feel in a dark place but just reminding yourself of the things you have overcome and the small things that give you enjoyment, whether it's the springtime air, city noises at night or discovering a great new book, these reminders certainly help you to feel a tad more positive.
Talk. Whether it's to your Mum, your SO, your best friend, your cat or your therapist, don't keep it all to yourself. It's easy to think people don't care when you shut yourself away, but believe it or not, they can't read your mind and don't always know when you're in need! Open up and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much people want to support you.
