Mental health awareness day was yesterday and I think whether we want to admit it or not, mental health is something we all struggle with at times. Here are some things that have really helped me. Maybe they’ll help you too
1. Last year just before my birthday I spent nearly a whole day hiccup crying in the basement hiding from the world with a box of used up tissues at my feet. Anyone been there? It came out of nowhere and pulled the rug right out from under me- these sudden feelings that I was not good enough, would never BE good enough, that nothing I could ever do would be enough. And I spiraled. How did I handle it? First of all, I dealt with it right then.
I leaned into my faith and prayed my way through. That included seeking TRUTH and Gods promises. EMOTIONS ARENT FACTS. Did you catch that? I felt all these things, but they weren’t facts.
Facts, Im fearfully and wonderfully made (and so are you) (Psalm 139:14)
God works all things for good for those who love him (Romans 8:28)
I don’t have to be enough because Jesus is! So let’s go ahead and release that burden.
Here’s another link with more of God’s promises
2. Forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for forgetting the Halloween costume for your preschooler, for not making your booking calls, for gaining weight over the holidays, for not doing what you said you would do, for saying that horrifying thing to that person 15 years ago, or for a lot more horrible things we hold on to. Forgive yourself. And let it go. Sometimes you have to let it go over and over again. But when you start hating on yourself, forgive yourself again and let it go again. God forgives you when you ask, so give yourself the same grace.
3. Stop comparing. Gah social media escalated this issue. In my business we earn the use of free cars. I love the car program! I love driving free! I hate comparing myself to other people who earned higher level cars.
Or comparing someone’s flawless ride to my chaotic one.
Or someone’s totally behaved kid to my screaming one.
Stop comparing y’all. You will always compare your worst to someone else’s best and come up short. So just release it & repeat after me, “this is the journey God has me on, and I’m grateful for it”. This is your journey, not hers or his.
4. Frustration is misplaced expectation. The number of years I spent constantly frustrated because my riding journey wasn’t what I wanted is…annoying. I’ve forgiven myself though..ha! But seriously one day I was talking to my mom and she pointed out that she could tell when I hadn’t been to the barn and needed to get there. I had thought if I wasn’t progressing towards jumping bigger and going to shows, I wasn’t getting what I wanted. But her statement opened my eyes. Y’all it’s a gift just to go to the barn. Even on the days my horse doesn’t feel well and I just groom him. It’s a gift and being around him fills my cup.
What fills your cup? Have you created expectations around something that keeps you from enjoying it because you’re always frustrated from not hitting those expectations?
Like when your kid doesn’t listen and you momentarily despise motherhood because it didn’t meet expectation?
Traffic y’all. It’s frustrating because you expect the cars in front of you to go faster. They’re not and no amount of yelling or anger will fix it. #release. Change your expectation. It’ll be ok
Frustration is misplaced expectation
5. Get some Vitamin D. From the sun, from a pill, whatever but vitamin d was a game changer for me. My emotions were all over the place – a daily rollercoaster. Vitamin D leveled me out. Thank God! Get you some. (obviously discuss with a doctor before adding random things in. Especially if you’re on other meds or have medical issues)
6. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to get professional help. Honestly, I’m pretty sure having a mental health doctor is more common than a GP doctor at this point. Sometimes you need more than self forgiveness or vitamin D to get out of the hole of depression or anxiety or whatever it is you may be dealing with. Forgive yourself for that (if you need to) and get help. Let people in who have earned it so they can lift you in prayer when you can’t lift yourself.
I’ll stop there. But I’m curious, what have you done to help with your mental health? Were there any tips you might actually use?
God is good all of the time (even when it doesn’t feel like it),
Sarah
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