7 ways to find your best self-care activities as a mentally ill person.
Self-care Many of us struggle with what kind of
activities can assure and benefit our mental illness. As a
mentally ill person myself I understand it! I even went through my own journey
until I found the best self-care needed for my paranoid schizophrenia.
Here are 7 ways to find your best self-care activities
as a mentally ill person.
# 1 Understand your needs
Your mental illness diagnosis will help you with this!
For example, if you have paranoid schizophrenia like me you may have to start
with daily affirmations. If you have depression, you need a structured
routine (a habit tracker or other tracker can help you with this). Don’t forget
to consult with your psychiatrist so they can also help choosing your self-care
activities.
# 2 Try a whole bunch of things
Trying is another way to research. You can try many
activities like working out, doing sports, cycling, doing your skincare, reading a
book, connecting with other people, doing new things like crocheting or knitting, or
maybe as simple as watching a bunch of tutorials of new self-care techniques or
hobbies. You can also join an online or offline hobbies class that is available in
your region like cooking, tufting, doing house chores class, and many more.
# 3 Pay attention to what works
After you try a whole bunch of things pay attention to
what activities that work. For example, some people in my mental illness
community find listening to music helps them to decrease stress while some find
that getting busy with work can make them more relaxed and content. Make sure
to take note of what works and what doesn’t work so you can narrow down your
options.
# 4 Find a community and connection to the specific
self-care activities
In my case like finding an embroidery community and
reconnecting with an aunt to teach me how to crochet works. You can also find this
community online and offline or maybe this community is really nearby. Like the
people who love to make music in my mental illness community then create their
own community that really works and connect them to one another. You can also
join a mental illness community for that I have another article here
# 5 Adress basic needs
Most of my doctor/ psychiatristappointmentst reallypays attention to my weight and activities. To do that I need to address my
basic needs such as connecting to people and being more healthy. It is a
recommendation from my psychiatrist to start working out because physical and
mental are connected. You can also tend to your basic needs like sleeping,
nutrition, and hydration by working out or doing self-care activities that really
work for you.
# 6 Set a realistic goal
After you find your perfect self-care activities, you
can set a goal that you want to reach. Don’t forget to celebrate along the way.
Like when I get one month straight doing the workout I celebrate by treating myself to a sweet treat. You can also do the same maybe by giving your neighbor, family, or friends your finished work/dish that can also help you heal.
# 7 Don’t forget to be flexible
It's okay to not do what you planned for that day in
the end you’re still a human who can make mistakes. Create a routine that you
can establish like working out in the morning and journaling in the evening. Sometimes you may feel the routines overwhelming okay to skip them. Back then
when I got COVID-19 I skipped writing in my diary for like the whole week because of
my sickness and I didn’t feel bad about it while letting my whole body recover
from the sickness.
Conclusion
Finding the
best self-care activities as a mentally ill person can be a journey of trial,
reflection, and adjustment. It's about understanding your unique needs,
experimenting with different options, and building routines that work for you.
While it’s important to set goals and celebrate progress, it’s equally crucial
to remain flexible and compassionate with yourself. Self-care isn’t a
one-size-fits-all solution but a personal, evolving process.
Whether it’s
through structured habits, creative outlets, or connecting with supportive
communities, self-care can significantly benefit your mental health. Remember,
it’s okay to seek professional guidance from psychiatrists or therapists to
tailor your self-care approach. Ultimately, self-care is about finding
activities that not only support your mental well-being but also enrich your
life in meaningful ways.
Your journey
to discovering the right self-care practices might take time, but the benefits
for your mental health and overall quality of life make it worth the effort.
Source:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/articles/techniques/self-care-for-mental-health-and-wellbeing
https://www.verywellmind.com/self-care-strategies-overall-stress-reduction-3144729
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