So, there we are feeling lazy, beating ourselves up about it because we hate that and yet can’t seem to get away from that slug.
Here’s the thing, when you have anxiety, depression or other mental health illnesses, sometimes it can be paralyzing. When my anxiety is awful it is hard for me to do more than breathe as I try and come out of that attack. And that is exactly what it is, a mental attack that is intent on staying inside your body and paralyzing it. You are NOT lazy, but because of this mental attack it really feels like you are, and it is an awful feeling. I really dislike laziness, my parents had made me feel incredibly lazy when I was younger and it is probably why I dislike laziness, why my mental paralysis makes me feel completely horrible about myself. Sometimes it can impair me all day making me feel even worse and usually puts me in a depressive episode that lasts for like no less than a week. It’s terrible. And then that depression sucks the energy away to try and fix anything even if I hadn’t already been paralyzed. Anyway, I have found things that actually helps me with this and brings me out of my depressive state a little bit at a time. On my really awful days it is even hard to do this, but it is really helpful when I accomplish it!
- 10 easy crunches or leg lifts for a workout (or a glute bridge, you just lay down, bring your legs up with your feet flat on the ground, lift up your middle and butt and let it back down this is one of my personal favorites)
- Write down a to do list for the day, include workout and cross it off after those 10 crunches or leg lifts.
- 1 small and simple necessary self-care, you may not have energy or be paralyzed and not thinking but find one thing that takes the least amount of energy and provides you a moment of clarity.
- Brush your teeth
The purpose of the movement, especially a common and easy workout in which you have to be laying down, gives you a spurring momentum because you have done a workout. Who cares if it is simple and small, it won’t make you lose weight, but it's not really about being fit or losing weight. It’s about blood flow and the way you look at yourself. When you do this, you realize that there are other small things you can do. And since it is a workout that you have to lay down for, it takes very little energy. On really bad days this is so hard to do, it really is, but when you force yourself to do it you feel a little bit better, you might even feel good enough to do more then 10.
The purpose of the to-do list is to give yourself an accomplishment even if it is 10 crunches. Crossing things off of a to-do list and reaching the last thing and not having anything else on it can ease anxiety because you get to look at the simple things you did that day, despite the terror in your mind right now. Add things to it as you go about your day and cross those off too. By the end of the day, there is a sense of accomplishment because you were able to complete such mundane tasks. And for people with mental health issues this is such an important feeling, to feel like you have done something and to see it written down. It can provide hope and this my dears is a doorway to something more. Something better.
Obviously the purpose of the self-care is to take care of yourself, it isn’t a selfish thing, it is a necessary thing to see yourself in a better light. With mental health comes a feeling of self-loathing, even if you don’t actually dislike yourself, you can feel like you do and like you do nothing right. This is something that the illness tells us about ourselves, that we are not accomplishing anything, that we are useless and despised, things like that. And they really just aren’t true, unfortunately it is exceptionally hard to realize this. By doing something that makes you feel better you get a sense of clarity, a small one at first and you realize it’s the disorders making you feel that way rather then things actually being that way. When you get this small clarifying thought you’re able to try harder to come out of it. This isn’t always going to be what happens, you need to do it over and over, every single day. You may not realize this but living with mental health takes such strength that a lot of people don’t even realize. A strength some people can’t fathom because they aren’t enduring it day in and day out.
And finally, the purpose of brushing your teeth, maybe you think this is weird, it sounds weird lol. But when my mental health is taking its toll I don’t take care of myself well, emotionally or physically. By making myself brush my teeth I get to feel clean, it didn’t take the energy needed to shower, my breath smells good, my teeth feel nice. This feeling of cleansing can help release some negative energy. I feel dirty and gross when my mentality is on its downturn, if I can accomplish brushing my teeth it makes me feel cleaner and helps provide me with a better view of myself. If you try this tell me about it! I would love to know if these small acts were able to help you like they help me.
Best,
~TKNott~
Comments