Self-Care Beyond The Mundane For Depression and Anxiety
Have you been taking vacations and time off of work to then dread coming back? You may be wondering why you even try taking vacations if it's just going to leave you feeling stressed or more stressed when coming back. There has to be a better way at managing symptoms of anxiety and depression. This blog will talk more about different perspectives on self-care that are not normally discussed and how with different adjustments self-care could be of greater value. This blog is not a substitute for therapy or mental health advice. If you are interested in getting mental health services please contact our Inward Counseling team for more information.
1.) What are you doing and why?
It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that one self-care activity is going to change how you feel. Sometimes it is not about what you are doing but more so about why you are doing something. Self-care won't be as effective if the intention surrounding it is unknown. It will feel more like a chore to check off of the list when self-care includes just any activity. It is different to view an activity instead for how and why it will benefit you in the situation and moment. Seeing how an activity would have true intentional benefits is worth exploring when thinking about what you want to get out of it. Trust your gut and what works for you.
2.) When are you doing self-care?
Like in the description in the start of this article, if you are only doing self-care for spurts of time it is not going to work. If you go on a vacation for a period of time and come back to work and put all the energy into that again, it will probably be dreadful. Self-care is an intentional effort to work on yourself every single day, not just 1-2 weeks out of the year. Self-care may look like taking specific breaks during the day to ground yourself and regulate the nervous system. Over-scheduling on the calendar is going to have a higher potential for burn-out. We can identify that we are a full human with needs that need to be attuned to every single day that we live. There is no way that we can show up in all of the areas of our life without making intentional time and efforts to care for ourselves.
3.) Are your values in alignment with what you are doing?
What do you value in your life? Are you living a life that gives you some levels of fulfillment or satisfaction? If not then maybe it is time to ask yourself why. You are never too old to start something new or to change something in the life that you are living. We all have different responsibilities that can hold us back from doing things, but there are flexible areas. Trust your intuition and have faith to do something outside of your comfort zone, you may never know if you never try. If you feel like your job for example doesn't align, explore more into the why and see if that is something that can change. Have the courage to be the person that you feel like you are meant to become with what is within your control.
Are you looking for more? Are you wanting to seek out help from a mental health professional? Here at Inward Counseling we would be more than happy to assist with what you are looking for with therapy. Reach out to us to get more information on anxiety therapy and to see how we can connect you to the therapist that is the right fit for you and your needs.