There are several ways to help you get your mental health back on track and feel better about yourself and your future. But, for all of the mental health advice you can find online, there’s no guarantee that it works for you, especially in extreme circumstances when you’re just one bad day from having a breakdown.
So what can you do when you’re teething on the edge? It’s tempting to hole yourself inside and avoid speaking to everyone, but this also affects your job and relationships. There must be some solution, though, so here are seven things to consider.
Take A Step Back
If you are suffering from stress, anxiety, burnout or any other mental health issue, it often helps to take a step back. This gives you the chance to see what is causing your problems and what you can do about it. This might involve taking time off work to recalibrate and recharge, which should be possible with most organizations. Even if you can’t take time off work, you should be able to discuss your problems with your manager. Ideally, they can arrange for others to handle some of your workloads so you don’t feel so overwhelmed.
Speak To Friends
If you’ve experienced mental health struggles for a while, you may have also gotten very good at hiding them. This could mean that even your nearest and dearest aren’t aware of the issues you face, but they may be happy to hear what you have to say. Opening up and sharing your struggles can help you gain a new perspective and you can rely on your friends to be there for you through everything.
Or Reach Out to Strangers
However, some people don’t want to burden their friends with their issues, or they worry that they won’t understand the problems they are facing. In this case, you can reach out to strangers by finding online forums and communities centred around your specific issues. There are various resources available, including subreddits or online groups, and most people will be happy to offer support, but be careful about which advice you take.
Be Honest With Yourself
You will never empower yourself to step back from the edge if you do not accept that you must be honest with yourself. This honesty is one of the most crucial steps in helping you make a positive change in your life. If you can recognize what’s wrong, you can feel more confident exploring your next options. Understanding that you need to seek therapy or even attend rehab for depression can be terrifying, but it will make the difference you crave.
Don’t Try to Change Everything At Once
When someone decides to take control of their life, they might think that sweeping changes are the way to go. They want to hit the gym at five AM each morning. They are going to eat healthily. They will take their meds on time and they will make sure to always message their friends back. However, trying to make all these changes only sets you up for failure. You will feel much more confident and comfortable if you take it one step at a time. Once you prove to yourself that you can do one thing – and make a habit out of it – you can move on to another.
Write About Your Feelings
There are so many benefits to mental health journaling that, surprisingly, it isn’t something everyone does. Writing about your feelings allows you to process your problems differently. While you won’t find the meaning of life (at least, probably not), you may still reach epiphanies about your problems and your life that can help accelerate change and improvements.
Have Some Self Belief
If you don’t believe in yourself, who will? Sure, your friends and family will (or should) have your back, but they aren’t the ones responsible for you. You need self-belief if you are ever going to make positive changes and overcome your mental health struggles. Even if you don’t think you can do it now, you must still try everything possible to transform your current situation and make things better for you. No one else will do it for you, so go for it.
Stepping Back
Stepping back from the edge is one of the most important things you can do. It’s easy to get swept into a maelstrom of uncertainty and panic that can impact every other aspect of your life. These tips can empower you to feel better about yourself and your situation, giving you the chance to overcome your mental health problems and start living your life the way you want to live it.