This month is Mental Health Awareness Month. Small Steps. Big Impact.
Read more: May!!!Some days may be more difficult than others. All you can do is make the next best choice. Whatever that is for you. I think we all do the best that we can with the information we have at the time. Sometimes that means only being able to do the bare minimum on activities of daily living and that is okay. In fact, it is okay to not be okay sometimes! I know, shocking right, in a society where one may be expected to work 40+ hours, be present with family, engage in social events, fitness, and keeping the body nourished all without slowing down. Breathe.
Overwhelm can be described as trying to spin too many plates on sticks at once. This month, if overwhelm creeps up, or any emotion gets too intense, I highly recommend feeling it. What does that mean? Experience the sensations in the body that go along with the feeling. For example, when some folks get anxious the stomach can feel like one has butterflies or the chest can seem tight. Noticing these sensations and noticing them shift is processing. To feel it is to heal it I think someone once said. This is different than stewing. Sitting in unnecessary anger is only going to increase one’s internal distress. For anger, it is okay to avoid the person/place/thing that elicited that emotion for at least 30 minutes to reduce the intensity of the emotion before proceeding mindfully. Try not to go more than 24 hours when using avoidance skillfully as that can be a slippery slope into sweeping things under the rug (not advised).
One tip I’ve learned over the years it to picture a light, like you know how a copy machine has the light that scans the document? You can imagine a light scanning your body and you can go head to toe or toe to head, whichever you prefer. This is called a body scan. Notice the sensations and notice they will pass. Emotions are temporary. They will pass. Well, if you choose to feel it. Choose to shove it down, and it may persist for days, weeks, months or even years.
Mental health matters. You matter. Whether you believe it or not. Try taking the next small step that will make a big impact for you, whatever that it.
See below for a pdf that has a day to day by TherapyAppointment of what you can do this month to take small steps that have a big impact.
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