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10 Ways to Practice Self-Care

Nancy MacGregor MA, ATR-BC, LPC, ACS, Clinical Director

As someone who personally suffers from anxiety and depression, these are trying times. A friend once told me; all days are good days, but some days are really good days and I’d like to keep that perspective, especially right now, when a lot of days don’t feel so good.

As soon as I wake up in the morning, it is important for me to do a self check-in and continue to do so regularly for the rest of the day.

  • What is my first thought when I wake up?
  • How am I feeling?
  • What am I grateful for?
  • What are my goals for today?
  • What is my purpose today?
  • Why is today a good day?

Answering the last question isn’t always so easy for me. Sometimes my answer is as simple as “I am alive” or that “Help is available if I need it.”

We need to be honest with ourselves about how we are really feeling. We matter, how we feel matters. Taking care of ourselves and our mental health is important all the time, especially right now.

Mental health is a constant struggle for everyone, even those who are living without personality disorders, mood disorders, or other, more permanent mental illness. Just because you’re having a tough time right now, doesn’t mean that will always be the case. There are many good strategies for coping with feelings of anxiety depression — a lot of the time, it’s understanding that what you’re feeling is temporary.

Speaking with a therapist is a good way to ground yourself. Therapists act as neutral third parties who you can trust any amount of private information with. They’ll speak with you on a regular basis to see how you’re feeling, and help you to develop stronger coping strategies to help when you’re feeling down or nervous.

Here are 10 ways we can combat our feelings of anxiety and depression:

  1. Go for a walk
  2. Call someone we love
  3. Write down positive affirmations
  4. Learn something new
  5. Set goals
  6. Read a book
  7. Workout
  8. Pamper ourselves
  9. Journal
  10. Listen to a podcast

Tracking our habits can help as well. I find it helps keep me accountable and aware of what works best for me. Also, remembering we are not alone, even if we physically are. Communication and being open with how we feel is monumental.

One thing that’s important to consider is that there’s a difference between doing something on a semi-regular basis, and developing positive habits. Oftentimes, we fall into patterns of negative thoughts that become very cyclical, and therefore habitual. Breaking this cycle and developing more positive habits can take a lot of work, and it always helps to work with a professional therapist to reach these goals.

If you’ve tried some of the ideas listed and are still feeling overwhelmed, there is no better time than now to seek support. Mental healthcare is available; even during the quarantine, as we practice social distancing in order to keep the physical health of ourselves and those around us top priority.

Our mental wellness can also be a priority. Harmony Bay Telehealth allows residents of South Jersey to participate in online treatment for a variety of mental health conditions. Therapy is available online for Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, and many other conditions. An internet connection and a smart device or computer is all you need to safely and privately participate in individual or even group therapy. So if you are in need of a counselor or therapist near Cherry Hill, NJ just reach out.

Keep your mental wellness a top priority. Call Harmony Bay Wellness today at [Direct] to schedule an appointment.

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