7 Self-Help Tactics for Fighting Fit Mental Health
Last week, I was speaking to someone who’s currently suffering depression and looking for ways to tackle it. Naturally, since I work as a freelance trainer for Aware on their Mood Matters programme, I was asked for advice. So, here it is. This advice also comes recommend for anyone who wants to keep their mental health in good order, as well as those who’re receiving treatment from others.
(Apologies to anyone who saw this post last Wednesday, then saw it disappear! It seems we’d double posted!)
- Build exercise into your day. Running around after small children, walking to the shops or bus-stop, or keeping the house spic and span does not count. Your heart needs to be racing and you’ll need a shower afterwards. If you’re really serious about your health, ask Matthew for a consultation. The tiredness, lethargy and exhaustion you feel can only improve following exercise. And, exercise is proven to help you sleep better.
- Do something that takes you outside of yourself and into helping others. Depressed people’s negative thoughts lead to negative emotions, leading to negative behaviour. Aside from the obvious benefit of helping someone in need, if you’re focusing on someone else, you can take your mind off things for a while, which gives your thoughts a rest. This helps to put your own issues into perspective. Ask anyone who’s done a mission trip to a third world country. They say it focuses their complaining attitude like nothing else every did. Here are a few options:
- Home Start Lakeland, Enniskillen
- Aware Defeat Depression, Belfast and Londonderry
- VSB, Belfast, Londonderry, Bangor
- Volunteer to help a friend or neighbour who’s just had a big change in their life: new baby, redundancy, bereavement, debilitating illness, paralysis.
- Take up a new interest, or learn a new skill. If this is something that involves contact with others outside the home, so much the better.
Contact your local college, university or community centre. There are always short courses and workshops happening. Some are even free. - Plan ahead. Book things into your calendar, or diary, that help you to look forward to the future. Check WhatsOnNI for stuff to do. Anyone can submit any event to the site, for free. There are often low-cost events, and some free ones too. There’s sure to be something to appeal to you.
- Talk to someone you trust. If you are suffering a low mood for a prolonged period of time, talk to your doctor or a counselling service such as Aware. Make sure someone from your family or among your friends knows. Don’t keep it a secret. Depression doesn’t get better all by itself. And, it is not your fault, nor something you should feel shame about. It is an illness, like any other, and you need help.
- Avoid isolating yourself at home, or in your work. Get out and see your friends, preferably doing something active, like a forest walk, dancing, or a bike ride. Keep your friends close, so they can help keep an eye on your mood, and notice when things are not right.
- Get your life into a routine. Humans need structure, order and discipline. And, those who suffer depression often have no real structure to their day, especially if they have had to take time off work to recover. Plan to meet someone for coffee early in the morning. Decide to exercise early in the day. Have a weekly schedule for doing the housework, socialising, work or relaxing. Book appointments with yourself, and don’t break them – it’s rude!
We hope these simple strategies will help get your life back in order. Depression is a devastating illness. Give yourself a break. You’re doing well, even by reading this post, as it demonstrates a will to get better.
Take care on your journey to recovery. And, if your health is in great condition, don’t forget the 7 steps to keeping it that way.
Image credit: sacks 08.
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http://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewarrell Matthew Arrell