All About Ways to Cope

The hardest part of a mental illness is coping with it. It's a tiring, lonesome process, and you may not even know how to start. Here are some things that may ease this burden.

Take a break from social media.

Social media is one of the main culprits of weakening mental health. Your mind gets filled with skewed beauty standards, ridiculous challenges, and 'ideal' life scenarios that most of the times, it takes a toll on your mental state. This is why limiting your interations with social media will be beneficial in the long run. Whether it be taking baby steps and fixing a screentime for these apps or deleting the app for a couple of months, it will definitely elevate your state of mind for the better.

Try meditation or relaxing activities.

This includes a range of options. It could be a self-care day, finding a wellness app, or even practicing deep breathing exercises for 5 minutes a day. You are most important during this time, so take care of yourself.

Do activities that you enjoy.

If you don't have one, explore around your area and see what you may like; for example, learning a sport, going to your favorite restaurant, taking photos, reading books, etc.

Listen to different musical genres.

Even though this one seems small, it can bring some amounts of joy. Genres such as musical theatre and classical may help in elevating your mood (however, do keep in mind that some genres, such as heavy metal or techno, may serve to be detrimental).

Mental and verbal affirmations:

Affirmations are statements that you repeat to yourself, and eventually, they change how you think or percieve a situation. For example, repeatedly saying, "I believe in myself," may allow you to become more confident overtime. Through repetition, these phrases replace your negative thoughts with positive ones. In this way, here are some affirmations that may help you:

"I love and accept myself for who I am."
"I am enough."
"I am deserving of happiness."
"I am confident in myself and my abilities."

Try a self-journal.

This journal can serve as a place for you to jot down any thoughts you may have, while also serving as a time for you to reflect on those thoughts. Over time, this can help you come to terms with the way you think, and eventually help you to overcome the negative thoughts you may be experiencing.

This last option might seem like the easiest one on the list, but it is really one of the hardest.

Seek out support from your family and friends.

It may be hard to reach out initially. It may seem like you're burdening them, or you may be scared that they won't understand your situation. But your health is the most important thing during this time. Being in a vulnerable stage, your thoughts may not seem like your own; this is why seeking a support system, like your family or friends, is a significant step in recovery. If reaching out to someone close to you seems difficult at the moment, try finding a support group near you. These groups consist of like-minded individuals that are going through the same stages as you are. You can also try text therapies (listed in the resources and hotlines page).

If you are experiencing persisting issues such as difficulty sleeping or breathing, sudden weight changes, unusual tiredness, or frequent mood swings, consult with a medical professional. Don't wait until these symptoms become unbearable; even if they are small, if they are persistent, it's always better to get it checked out.

Remember: you are not alone in this journey. You will get through this, so keep on pushing. There are people out there that are rooting for you (including us!).

There's a role for everyone to play in the journey to recovery. If you know someone going through an illness, be there for them, and do not shame them. This seemingly small action can change their life. Your support can give them the courage to smile again.