What we do to maintain our mental health is necessarily a personal matter. What I suggest here is a menu of ideas that have helped me personally, rather than a prescription:
- Regulate news consumption: Online at DailyKos and elsewhere, we select what we want to expose ourselves to. On YouTube, the algorithm shows us more of whatever we watch. If I click on something I do not want to see more of, I remove it from my viewing history. TV news is an entirely different matter - the content is intended to provoke anxiety and return viewing. Best avoided in my opinion.
- Include uplifting items in media viewing, especially before bedtime. During our idle time the mind will naturally review events that transpired over the course of the day. This influences dreams. So I find it very worthwhile to fill my mind with as much uplifting material as I can, especially before bedtime.
- Do not create flame wars. If I feel moved to disagree with somebody online, I have found it to be really helpful to find a way to disagree that is supportive of good feelings for the other party. This can take the form of pointing out where I agree, first, or finding a bit of humor if it occurs to me. This can also mean linking and block quoting from a respectable source, which helps to keep it from being taken personally. If I find myself provoked and angry, I type out a response fully expressing myself - and delete it. Getting entangled in online disputes used to take up a lot of my mental energy. As of late that drain has been thankfully absent. I have found it to be really worth the effort to take care with my disagreements. Years ago my co-administrator Besame also gave some very good advice on this subject here.
- Have regular sources of personal upliftment. This could be anything - music, nature, friends, family, community. Personally I'm a devoted practitioner of Qigong, the cultivation of the subtle energy known in the east as Qi, also spelled Chi. As a result of Parkinson's insomnia I usually wake around 2 or 3:00 a.m. I spend the rest of my resting time in Chi meditation. It feels like Divine Love and it feels like home. Works for me. (Note - here at KosAbility we are respectful of such personal choices. I'm aware that in the broader community some individuals feel compelled to ridicule spirituality. If this is you, know that such a response speaks to who you are rather than your target.)
- Have a way of keeping perspective on the current political situation. This could be anything - history, astronomy, nature, you name it. Personally, I regard life as Earth School - like a challenging first person video game for personal development. I expanded upon this idea in the diary, Bored With Heaven? Try Earth School!
I am not a mental health professional and the foregoing is not intended as professional mental health advice. When to seek professional help:
Every mental health condition is different. However, in general, it might be a good idea to seek professional help if you experience:
- Marked changes in personality, eating or sleeping patterns
- An inability to cope with problems or daily activities
- Feeling of disconnection or withdrawal from normal activities
- Unusual or “magical” thinking
- Excessive anxiety
- Prolonged sadness, depression or apathy
- Thoughts or statements about suicide or harming others
- Substance misuse
- Extreme mood swings
- Excessive anger, hostility or violent behavior
What do you think?
KOSABILITY IS BY AND FOR
- PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES;
- WHO LOVE SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY; OR
- WHO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE ISSUES.
OUR DISCUSSIONS ARE OPEN THREADS IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS COMMUNITY.
FEEL FREE TO
- COMMENT ON THE DIARY TOPIC;
- ASK QUESTIONS OF THE DIARIST OR GENERALLY TO EVERYONE;
- SHARE SOMETHING YOU'VE LEARNED; OR
- GRIPE ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.
OUR ONLY RULE IS TO BE KIND.
BULLIES WILL BE IGNORED AND/OR OBLITERATED.
FOR MORE ELABORATION ON OUR GROUP RULE PLEASE READ THIS STORY.
AT KOSABILITY WE AMICABLY DISCUSS ANY AND ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO HEALTH. OUR DISCUSSIONS ARE NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. MEDICAL ADVICE CAN ONLY BE PROVIDED BY A QUALIFIED PHYSICIAN WHO HAS EXAMINED THE PATIENT. IF YOU HAVE WORRISOME SYMPTOMS PLEASE SEE YOUR DOCTOR!
Open thread. All health and diary related discussion welcome!
