As I continue on my journey to improve my mental health, I am finding it extremely difficult to practice some of the exercises, and to utilize the tools I have learned that will allow me to function in a healthier way.
There are so many amazing tools out there. They take time, practice and sometimes, a little extra help from health care professionals to walk us through it. If you are struggling, please reach out to health care professionals. It shows real strength to ask for help!
I am realizing that the recovery process isn’t linear. With progress, there may also be some set backs. But that’s okay! Take baby steps and give yourself credit where credit is due. Even just recognizing that you need help is a huge milestone and worth celebrating.
Daily affirmation is something that I found to be extremely helpful. It is a concept that is easy enough for me to practice on my own without feeling too overwhelmed.
How did practicing daily affirmations improve my mental health? I find that it’s helped me cope in stressful situations. I am able to challenge intrusive thoughts by repeating daily affirmations that are applicable in the situation I find myself in. Now that I know I have the ability to calm myself down when I get triggered, I feel more confident in myself to cope with difficult situations in a healthier way.
Below is how I started incorporating daily affirmations to my routine. It is something that I swear by now and I do it every morning without even thinking about it anymore.
Routine - every morning before I start my day, I practice daily affirmation by reading a positive mantra (I included the link below of where I get them from). Try to be consistent and do not skip any days. Consistency is key.
Repeat and practice - I repeat the mantra to myself several times. I remind myself of the affirmation throughout the day when I notice myself being overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts.
Buddy system - ask a trusted friend, a family member or your significant other for help. Similar to having a workout buddy, we can hold each other accountable, and share our positive mantras of the day with each other. It’s a great way to stay connected as well.
Patience - be patient with yourself. Similar to working out, you won’t notice an immediate difference after one session at the gym. It will take time to train your brain.
There are mantras that I feel are more specific to myself and my trauma. I memorized them to remind myself whenever the intrusive thoughts start creeping in.
I am not broken, I can be healed.
I am safe, everything is okay.
I am stronger than my depression.
I am doing the best I can, and that is enough.
This feeling will pass. It won’t last forever.
You too will find positive mantras that are more specific to your situation that resonates with you. I recommend keeping those at your finger tips so you can refer to them depending on the specific challenges you are facing at the time.
There are lots of free resources online that can be found through googling. I personally found it helpful to have a physical routine and to be able to see my positive affirmations every day.
If you’re a more visual person like me, you may also like to check out the “Thoughtfulls pop-open cards” at: https://www.live-inspired.com or on Amazon. I love the cute pop-open cards series. I save the ones I resonate with the most on my fridge and in my office so I can easily refer to them when I need a reminder. They can also be used as cute little bookmarks!
Another great resource is the “I Am” app you can download on your phone. I love the affirmations on this app. This app allows you to set reminders to have the affirmations pop up at various times. You can also customize widgets to your Home Screen so you can see these affirmations every time you access your Home Screen. I also love that I can save the affirmations that resonates with me the most so I can go back and read them whenever I need a reminder.
I hope that my recovery journey gives you hope. There are so many resources out there that can help strengthen our mental health. Similar to working out to improve our body physically, we also need to put in the work to improve our mental health. You may not notice a difference right away, but over time it really does get better! Remember to be kind to yourself and take it one day at a time.