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Modern life is busy and stressful; sometimes you may feel so weighed down by daily struggles or past trauma that it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning. Whether you’ve been clinically diagnosed with a mental illness or just have a hard time processing your emotions, healthy coping mechanisms can make all the difference in your life. Negative feelings may not disappear overnight and you may not always receive workers’ compensation for depression and anxiety, but there are ways to start making positive changes. Here are 3 coping techniques to help you get through the day.
Talk About It
All too often, people hesitate to say what they are feeling — maybe you fear that you’ll be a burden, or perhaps you find it intimidating or too draining to talk about your problems. What’s important to remember is that sharing your fears and emotional struggles with another person can help relieve stress, improve your mood and even change your perspective on problems. Connecting with other people helps eliminate the deeply painful feeling of being alone and at the very least, it can help you get your mind off things for a moment.
Express Yourself
It may feel impossible to do anything when you’re dealing with negative emotions, but sometimes this pain can be channeled into creative expression. Whether you choose to use music, traditional art, cooking, writing, dance, building, film or any number of creative outlets, engaging in something you enjoy is a great way to start breaking through a difficult period. If you have limited access to supplies, it’s easy to express yourself with what you have around you right now. Keep in mind that even if you have little interest in doing anything at the moment, sometimes doing it anyway is all it takes to find joy in your hobbies again.
Practice Self Care
Sometimes the key to healing mentally is to take care of your physical body. No matter how large or small, take some time out of your day to practice good hygiene — if it’s too hard to brush your teeth or take a shower right now, try using mouthwash and cleansing your face and hands to start. Use dry shampoo or baby powder if need be and take a few minutes to moisturize your skin with lotion. Once you find the energy, you can start doing low-impact exercises to get blood and oxygen flowing through your body.
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Finding the motivation to get through a hard time can be tough, but it isn’t impossible. The storm will always pass but taking care of yourself in the meantime can make it easier to get up and get things done during the day. Remember that everyone deals with negative feelings, so opening about yours does not make you a burden; on the other hand, just because other people have problems doesn’t mean that yours are not important. At the end of the day, finding a bit of normality and routine can help kickstart the healing process and help you become yourself again.
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