Constructive methods to help your mental health

People who are resilient have the ability to face trauma, by looking at how the problem can be resolved, instead of giving up. Resilience is doing your best to make the most of your situation, and having the strength to ask for help when needed. A study conducted by Dr Yanek (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wellness-and-prevention/the-power-of-positive-thinking) Positive thinking helps with overall health and well-being, decreasing the chances of depression, anxiety and may expand your life expectancy.

Our emotions motivate us to respond to our circumstances and impact the decisions we make. Positive thinking provides a belief that you can help fix things, there is never nothing you can do for any situation.

You have to understand that it might not be possible to live the life you used to, but with adaptations, you can still enjoy some of the same things. For example going out every night may no longer be your life, but you may be able to go out one night each week, and can make the most out of going out.

Surround yourself with good, positive people, who support and love you for you. Ditch all the negative people in your life, those that want to put you down and spread negative vibes are not worth your time.

Ways of thinking positively

If you have ongoing negative thoughts such as ‘I feel like a failure. I feel useless. I feel like a burden to my network of people.’ you will begin to believe this and not live out the life you truly want (living with chronic illness, p. 15).When you are experiencing positive emotions like joy, contentment, and love, you will see more possibilities and your life. Positive emotions broaden your sense of possibility and opens your mind up to more experiences and helps to build new skills and resources that can provide value in other areas of your life.

Take time out daily to do something that you love and makes you feel alive: Be kind to yourself and find ways to build happiness and positive emotions into your life whether it is through meditation, writing, or playing a  game, getting into your hobby, catching up with friends over a meal or drink or anything else. These activities can help decrease stress and help show a few smiles, by giving you something positive to think of. When people are happy they develop new skills, those skills lead to a new success, which results in more happiness, and the process repeats itself. 

Setting goals is also helpful, but make sure the goals that you want to achieve are reasonable and reachable, such as reading an article or doing a crossword puzzle.

Direct your attention somewhere else, that's a positive! How about challenging your thinking and focus on the good stuff that's happened or is happening right now. Are you wanting to become a better person? Focus on the positives like past successes and how you can be the best person you can possibly be. 

Practice gratitude. Try and focus on something you are thankful for. I know it's hard to think of one when you are facing many challenges. Have you got a good support system around you? Are you thankful there is treatment to manage your illness? Try and find a place you can self reflect, there is no limit to how many things you can be grateful for, small and large.

Find an open door. The saying goes ‘when one door closes, another door opens.’ The life you once had needs to be adjusted. Try and find a new opportunity about being diagnosed with chronic illness such as using your experience to inspire others.

Having a chronic illness is like having a job, because you will need to take days off, which I call rest days. 

Surround yourself with good people, those who will give you grace for mistakes and hard times. They are the ones who will love you and conditionally and tell you how awesome and inspiring you are.

“Seek joy, play often, and pursue adventure. Your brain will do the rest.”