Understand That Healing Is Not Linear And Alter Your Perspective On Mental Health Recovery Forever
Change the way you see recovery.
Mental health is a massive topic at the moment and while there is so much advice out there on how to be more positive, how to stop your habits and quick fixes for your mindset, people are failing to realize that you can only recover when you understand that healing is not linear.
As someone who has suffered from depression and anxiety for years, I have felt constant frustration at myself for not getting better quick enough. That’s simply not the way it works. No matter what mental health issue you suffer with it is the same for everyone, nobody can suddenly pick themselves up one day and recover from their problems. Believe me, I’ve tried. I’ve written down goal lists which generally include recovering from lifelong issues in one month which is simply not achievable. Everyone goes through ups and downs in their recovery as it can take a while to realize what helps you, let alone reach out in the first place. As someone who internalizes a lot, it was a big step to reach out for help and while that didn’t suddenly make me feel better it was a step in a journey of change.
Understanding yourself and your issues take time especially as there are so many wonderful avenues for help to explore. Medication can take time to help and your body may not react well to it, you may need to switch to another counselor or try a different therapy technique. In today’s society everybody wants a quick fix but just like with your physical health you can’t suddenly change your mindset but can take small steps each day.
When you do fall back from your healing and retreat to old habits and mindsets the guilt and sense of failure can be real. I have slipped back into depression numerous times and recently I have struggled with anxiety which hasn’t really been a problem for years. The reason I can be calm during recent relapses is I just understand that it’s okay to do that. It’s human and normal and I can take old steps or try new methods to get better again and then I will have learned something new about myself and my journey with my mental health. Some tips I use for appreciating my progress is writing down how I’m feeling and keeping a diary. I also take lots of photos in my daily life and with both methods, I can look back and realize how far I have come. These may feel like simple methods that surely can’t help you in your recovery, but the truth is not everyone can afford therapy or medication and at the end of the day the only person to change your mindset is yourself. So, explore the habits you can add to your daily life and help yourself.
Life is out of our control to an extent, we don’t know what may happen and some triggers may arise unexpectedly but as soon as you acknowledge that healing is not linear you will have a totally new mindset which sets yourself free from expectations and allows yourself to heal properly at your own pace.
If you're looking for support, you can connect with a mental health counselor at "thrivetalk.com.
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