MINDSET AND MENTAL HEALTH

Lucy Lewis, Dorset Mind Ambassador

and mindset changes that I believe had the biggest impact on my mental health recovery.

Prioritising

When I was a child and adolescent, I was extremely focused on my future. To an extent, this can be a good thing; this mindset drove me forward and led me to achieve. However, it also lead me to feel devastated when I was too depressed, anxious, or exhausted to be productive, which was often. To allow for this, I would often work myself too hard, too late at night, on too many projects and goals.

However, I reached a breaking point and made a conscious decision to prioritise my well-being over all else. If I’m exhausted, I sleep. If I’m anxious, I do something relaxing. If I’m experiencing a low mood, I push myself to do something enjoyable. I realised that there will always be something due, or mounting tasks on my ‘to do’ list, but that I needed to find a way to look after myself within the chaos, rather than trying to control it.

Monitoring

Now, after a few years of carefully formed habits, I regularly check in on myself and my mental health. When I wake up, I’ll consider how tired I am. If I’m very tired, I tell myself that today will be harder and that it is normal to feel more emotional than usual, but that is OK.

Throughout the day, I will keep an eye on how I’m feeling. If I’m beginning to feel anxious or low in mood, I will utilise my coping mechanisms or plan particular activities and attempt to regulate my mood as best I can. I will confess, it is not fool-proof, but I can say with certainty that this shift in mindset has allowed me to look after myself more effectively, and done wonders for my well-being.

Knowing myself

Having spent the majority of my formative years very depressed, I often existed in survival mode and never got to know myself as a person. I lacked the motivation and energy to do anything other than what I had to do and I struggled to enjoy most things. As I have worked on my recovery, I’ve also got to know myself; what I enjoy, what makes me happy, how to give myself the best chance of a good day and a life I’m not trying to avoid. I treat myself almost like a patient under my care and pay attention to anything that can lead to even a slight improvement in mood. As I learn more about myself, the easier it is to regulate my mood. This is a continuous journey throughout my life and I look forward to consistently rediscovering myself.

The road to improved mental health is non-linear, complicated, and personal. I’d advise anyone to keep learning everything they can about mental health, and more importantly, themselves.

dorsetmind.uk

If you are concerned about your mental health, please speak to your GP. In a crisis, call 999, or The Samaritans at 116 123.