Millennials are known to be an anxious generation. It’s no surprise, thanks to our high-pressure work culture, skyrocketing housing prices, and never-ending obligations. While anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems are impossible to cure definitively, it is possible to manage our minds better.
1.Practise mindfulness
Mindfulness is trending, and for good reason. While scientific research into this method is still new, the Harvard Gazette recently reported that there is some success treating disorders with mindfulness.
Using mindfulness, you’ll learn to think in the present moment through activities like meditation. And this could help you view your worries in a new light.
You can practise mindfulness anywhere. It’s also very accessible, as there are many dedicated apps and online communities.
You might think mindfulness sounds boring and time-consuming. But you can add mindfulness into everyday actions. For example, when you’re walking to work, instead of ruminating over your schedule, take the time to notice the shape of the trees and the sounds of the birds instead.
Mindfulness is an excellent natural, drug-free, and affordable habit you can try today.
2.Don’t be ashamed of talking to a therapist
When you think of a therapist, do you think of an old man with a beard taking notes while you lie on a couch talking about your childhood? You may be relieved to know that modern psychotherapy is very different from this stereotype.
Modern-day therapy is based on scientific evidence and often requires active participation. You may be prescribed “homework” exercises to practise between sessions. For example, people with obsessive-compulsive disorders may be encouraged to slowly expose themselves to their triggers (i.e., reducing the number of times they wash their hands).
Moreover, when you consulted a therapist, make sure to adhere to the advice or take the recommended therapy no matter how weird it sounds to you. An example is a doll therapy, a healing process for parents who lost their children, which would need to make use of realistic reborn baby or reborn toddlers. Trust that treatments like this would help you feel better, and there is no harm in trying either.
So, if you’re heading to therapy, don’t think of it as giving in or being weak. You are actually taking a proactive step towards caring for your mental health.
3.Don’t be ashamed of taking medications (if you need them)
People who need to take antidepressant medication for depression or anxiety may be shamed for taking drugs. While diet, exercise, and psychotherapy are powerful treatments, some people genuinely need the help of medication to manage their symptoms. Medication can also help someone manage their anxiety symptoms while pursuing other treatment options like psychotherapy so that the psychotherapy is easier to handle.
Nevertheless, medication is expensive. If medication costs give you anxiety, consider buying your medication online from international and Canadian pharmacy referral services like Canada Med Pharmacy. Thanks to stricter price regulations in other countries, medication from abroad can be significantly cheaper.
Also, remember that you don’t have to take anxiety medication forever.
4.Go outside
There’s nothing like a taking a deep breath in the great outdoors! If you spend the majority of your time cooped up inside, make a point to see the sky once in a while. Being outside in nature physically separates you from everyday stressors like traffic and office work, giving you much-needed space to think and relax. You will also be forced to move more when you’re outside, so you can get your daily exercise in as well.
5.Prioritize sleep
In our workaholic culture, it’s almost a badge of honor to run on little sleep. But lack of sleep can have a drastic, negative effect on work quality and productivity, not to mention mental health.
If you suffer from anxiety, don’t be afraid to prioritize sleep. Sleep can be a calming, restorative time that gives you much-needed relief from your anxiety symptoms.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, there are many ways you can increase your chance of a good night’s sleep, such as:
- Creating a consistent bedtime and wake-up schedule, even on weekends
- Winding down with relaxing activities before sleep, such as reading or listening to music, as this
- will train your body to recognize it’s time to sleep
- Exposing yourself to sunlight in the morning and avoiding bright light in the evening —this will
- help regulate your circadian rhythm
- Doing a relaxing activity to help you sleep on schedule
- Avoiding alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and heavy eating in the hours before sleep
6.Find flow
Flow is a state of mind coined by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. It refers to the blissful state of intense focus when you are completely absorbed in a task that is challenging yet incredibly rewarding. People who experience flow include writers who stay up all night to write and musicians who practise playing for hours on end. When you find flow, you may also delight in a big sense of accomplishment.
If you’re not sure what can induce flow in your life, try out several activities. This can include walking, art, music, baking, cooking, and literally anything you can think of that gives you joy.
Self-Care Is Worth It
Whichever idea you decide to test out, remember that when you engage in self-care, you are not being lazy. Be proud of yourself for taking responsibility of your mental health, and hopefully one of these ideas will work for you.