We often hear about mental health awareness, celebrating weeks dedicated to it where movie stars and public personalities share their struggles with maintaining mental well-being. We are familiar with the dark places our minds sometimes retreat to and the thoughts that overshadow our happy memories. But do these celebratory posts on mental health awareness also address mental health preparedness? Beyond seeking help and being there for a friend or family member, what steps can we take to prepare ourselves mentally?
What do we do when we realize our mind is beginning to slip away? What do we anchor it to?
I used to anchor my mind to things and people with shaky foundations, only to fall as if a carpet had been pulled out from under me when those foundations inevitably shook.
I have taught myself what to do when I feel myself slipping away: I diligently track my mood and compare notes—Daylio helps with that. I have forced myself to follow a routine that acts as a strong anchor and keeps me grounded. (It is the most challenging thing I have had to teach myself.)
I keep myself busy but also practice mindfulness, albeit somewhat begrudgingly.
I have discovered what works for me and pursue it with ferocious tenacity.
And I fail at all of this quite regularly, but allow myself to start again.
I believe in treating life like a game of Snakes and Ladders, where sometimes you get an early win and then fail spectacularly, only to get back up and try again.
To everyone dealing with mental health concerns, it is important to remember that it’s okay to do all the things I have listed above, including failing spectacularly.
What’s important is to keep trying, seeking help when needed, and finding your own anchors to hold on to and sharing your stories of success and failures with the world ( this is more note to self to be honest, you do you bub).
Fingers in symphony 