Struggling with Anxiety or Depression?
If you are a woman who has nailed the art of appearing to be coping while struggling under the surface, then you certainly aren’t alone. Many of us routinely push through from one day to the next in efforts not to worry our loved ones. We keep smiling and offering reassurance that we are okay, all the while struggling to cope with the anxiety and depression we are faced with.
No matter how modern culture develops, there is still an expectation that women are the nurturers within our society. Many women are specifically hired for their sense of empathy and assumed emotional balance yet unsupported when they might struggle with anxiety or depression. This can leave us feeling frustrated, lonely, and ultimately disempowered.
You Can Get Your Power Back!
Thankfully—there are many natural ways we can build emotional strength within our lives in order to cultivate a healthier sense of emotional balance going forwards. Feeling more emotionally powerful will help us to battle the mental health issues we face with a clearer sense of hope and belief. Vitally, developing our personal confidence will help us in our journey of overcoming.
Here Are The 7 Empowering Methods You Need to Know About:
- Minimize online triggers. The digital world has a significant impact on our mood and emotions. Comparison culture on social media platforms can be incredibly depleting and constantly feeling connected to our professional inbox is very draining. Take action by unfollowing accounts that spike reactivity within you. Next, turn off all (but vital) notifications on your devices before setting up a concise ‘out of office’ auto-response for when you aren’t available. You might be surprised at the difference in stress you feel as a result.
- Declutter your environment. When depression takes hold, daily chores and self-care can quickly fall to the bottom of our priority list. However, excess clutter can make us feel demotivated and even claustrophobic. Make life easier for yourself by removing unwanted items from your home space. Donating them will make you feel better than keeping them will. Next, consider dedicating tech and home office set-ups to one room to allow the other spaces in your home to be a sanctuary from external noise. Minor actions such as these can make a notable difference over time.
- Reassess the influences around you. Who we spend our time with impacts our confidence and sense of emotional wellbeing without doubt. Begin a practice of mindfully checking in with yourself after spending time with those close to you. This could apply to friends, family and colleagues. Do you feel comfortable and the best of yourself in the company of this person most of the time? Keep them close by! Do you feel aggravated or insecure after speaking to them? You might want to limit how much you allow their access to you from here.
- Invest in the support of a professional. If you are struggling to cope with anxiety then consider investing in your mental wellness. Consider hiring a professional who will understand and support your needs. There are a range of therapists, counsellors and coaches who could transform how you think and feel. If affordability is a barrier for you, then look into a talking therapy groups or an online therapy app that could provide a low-charge or cost-free alternative. Doing so could be the best choice you make for yourself and your mental wellness this coming year.
- Pay close attention to nutrition. Gut health directly links to our cognitive wellbeing. Further to this, how we feel physically impacts our sense of resilience and ability to cope with daily stress. Although it might be tempting to reach for those sugar and caffeine laden vices to see us through the day, these tempting treats can spike our anxiety. Even further due to the highs and lows of mood they trigger. Food prep some healthy meals and snacks for the week . This will keep you feeling the very best of yourself day to day.
- Access local nature therapy. You don’t need to spend a fortune to access mood-boosting natural therapies. Spending time walking outdoors will naturally rejuvenate your emotional strength along with releasing mood-boosting ‘happy hormones’ including endorphins. Take a book read in a local park, go for a hike or simply sit in your yard and breathe in some fresh air on a dry day. If you don’t have an open green space nearby then simply sitting outdoors or by an open window to allow the sun to warm your face will provide beneficial Vitamin D and allow a crucial moment of restorative pause.
- Be forgiving of yourself. Anxiety and depression are conditions that are not attracted or chosen by someone—including you. It is not your fault that you have been feeling the way you have been. Free yourself from self-created pressure. You don’t need to feel better any sooner than is realistic to your individual circumstances. Be generous with your forgiveness of yourself on the days you might stumble and lovingly acknowledge the days where you succeed in making it though the day. Every step forwards is significant.
Regainig Emotional Control.
Anxiety and depression typically leads us to falsely believe that we are ‘beyond help’ or that nobody else but ourselves is struggling in the way that we are. In truth, this is the mental health condition talking rather than you. There are a multitude of options that could help you overcome your current struggles and lessen their impact over time.
Apply the methods within this article in order to build the emotional strength that lies naturally within you. The fact that you are here reading this article already highlights your willingness to win the war against your mental health challenges. This is something to celebrate! From here, you have the toolkit you need to progress on your journey of healing.
Keep going!