Monday Motivation: Mental Health Breaks

So it’s no secret how candid I speak about mental health. When I first started the blog, a lot of people gave me flack about speaking up. Now the Mental Health space is monetized and saturated. So this is proof that speaking your truth is always in style. For today’s Monday Motivation, we are talking about the honesty of your mental health and taking breaks.

Breaks Can’t Always be Super Quick

For instance, taking a nap is a great source of self care. By the way today is National Nap day. Some people have had to do more than a nap. So if you are noticing that you aren’t getting what you need from several self care initiatives-plan to dig deeper. This is why understanding your personal mental health is important. There are usually signs that something bigger is brewing. If you ignore the signs you will find out that you are deep in a mental health crisis. A mental crisis can be as large as needing to be in a facility to being overwhelmed and overconsumed with the lack of mental health support around you.

“Everyone is Depending on Me”

I understand that you have people depending on you. It is a lot no matter how many or how little titles you have, at the end of the day there are others depending on us. Having that pull while in the mental health crisis is real but let me be honest with you, it’s also a way to use it as a camouflage too. You need to be aware that being needed and being useful are two different things. I have many that depend on me but I am not useful to them if I am not in the right space. Take your moment. Steal it if you have to. Be vigilant about your needs. Ask for help. Be honest with those around you. Make space for your mental clarity.

If you aren’t okay how then will you be able to help someone else. You won’t be. You will be wondering all over the place mentally trying to get it together but finding it hard to. Sit quietly and attempt to write out your feelings. Have a jam session. Get clear.

Mental Health Check In

I had to do a mental health check in. I found over the weekend that I am not okay. It’s okay to not be okay. I found myself irritable, crying, upset, and over the top in emotion. I’m probably in my 2nd step of support that my therapist has created. I will be calling them today. This way we can work on adjusting the list for a specific time or increase my sessions. Let me tell you my thoughts are calm. I don’t feel physically that I am not in control. But I can’t concentrate as much as I usually am. Today one of my children is home sick. I had plans of getting out and focusing. Guess what? I still am getting out.

I have to make me a priority. My child has her dad who is working from home. She is not feeling well but doesn’t need to go to the doctors or hospital. This means that she will be fine. In the past it would be easy for me to not leave. Take care of her. Leave myself on the back end and then say I was doing my Mommy duties. In this case, duties can be shared.

Here are a few things that people don’t think reveal a possible mental  health illness/breakdown:

• Not eating/Eating too much/too little: appetite changes
• Mood changes
• Withdrawal
• Failure in functioning
• Not thinking clearly
• Apathy
• Nervousness
• Unusual behavior

This is a small listing. Talk to your healthcare provider or therapist for more.

In the past I have talked about therapy as well as things to be aware as you start the journey. There are other ways of supporting yourself like massage therapy, chiropractor, and listening to Rachelle McCloud as she discusses alternatives to therapy or in addition to it. If you are faith based I wrote a piece on that and therapy as well.

Sometimes you’re not able to “snap out” of it. Mental health isn’t always an easy fix. So be clear about that. Give yourself time. Time is the hardest. Those who deal with their mental health like I do want nothing more than to be better and whole faster. Be gentle with yourself and know that this is a process.