Happy World Mental Health Day! I hope everyone takes today to show themselves some self-love, self-awareness, and affirm that you are enough. There are so many different things you can do to make sure you are actively checking on yourself to ensure that you put your mental health at the top of your priority list! We all need to break the social stigma that surrounds mental health. You are not crazy. You are not over exaggerating. You are not alone. You can be healed. We so often neglect such an important aspect of our beings, so, here are a few things I do that I feel will help you take the right steps into being healthy mentally too.
1. Write down affirmations
You are beautiful. You will continue to grow. You will heal from your pain. Love will find you. These are just a few affirmations I say to myself on a regular basis. They force me to be present in my feelings as well conscious of my thoughts. Try to come up with some for yourself and post them around your house! Everyone needs a reminder of just how amazing they are.
2. Seek a therapist
If you feel like your mental health is getting to an unbearable point and even before it can get there, I would highly suggest seeking a therapist.In some communities, going to therapy can be a sign of weakness when in fact it is the complete opposite. Being vulnerable and actively seeking help from an unbiased party is one of the bravest things you can do. Do not be afraid to seek that help you need! Therapy is more affordable than you think. Check with your insurance company to see who in your area they cover, as well as look into different therapist in your area that you think may be a fit for you. If you are on a college campus, a lot offer counseling services that may be free or at a much lower cost. One site that helped me was Therapyforblackgirls.com. Not only does Dr. Joy have a directory of registered black therapist around the US, she also has an awesome podcast that has helped me unpack a lot of feelings. Do not feel ashamed. If this is something you have been thinking about, I definitely suggest you go for it
3. Don't be afraid to take a day to yourself
Just like you take a day when you have a cold, take a day when you feel too overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, or depressed. Stress kills, and it is so important that you take time to yourself, to mend yourself.Jobs and schools need to get into the groove of letting mental check days fly. We only have one life to live, and we don't want to waste it not taking care of ourselves to please society standards. It is okay to take a moment and check out from the world. It does not make you weak. It is the time you may need to get back to you.
4. Cleanse yourself
Whether it be in a physical sense or an emotional sense, cleansing is so important when maintaining your mental health. You can not be healed in any types of toxic environments. Take into account what you are putting into your body, what type of relationships you are fostering, what kind of environment you are in, and even what type of media you are taking in. If you feel that any of these things may be detrimental to your health, it is time to cleanse and rid yourself of it. I know that this is all easier said than done, but take into account how those factors may be hurting you 1000 times more than helping you. If it is something you have the power of changing, take steps to change it. I am sure that you will start to see a difference in how you feel once you start to let some things go.
5.Know you are not alone
Your mental health is valid. Anything you feel from this is valid. Know you are never alone in this journey.I feel like one of the most important aspects of maintaining healthy mental health is having a tribe. Mine brings me back to reality, even when I feel at my lowest. They are there when I feel like I have nobody. I am fully aware that we may not all be blessed to have a tribe, but there are so many resources, so many support groups, and so many ways to create your own community. Even after reading this, if you ever feel alone in this, know you can always reach out to me.
I feel like so often we associate mental health with being crazy. You are not crazy. Your mental health matters. You matter. Try to take today to evaluate where your mental health stands, and even ways you can improve it. Take today to reach out to any family or friends who you know suffer from mental health problems, you have no idea how much that acknowledgement and validation of their struggles may mean to them. Most importantly, take today and everyday after to help break the social stigmas that surround mental health. We can make a difference, together.
Comment below with any tips or any testimonies about your mental health!