The other day, my friend and I were having a conversation in my room. It was one of those conversations that started off with something like “how was your day” and got a lot more personal as the night went on.
Over the past year or so, this friend and I have begun to think about the state of our mental health- 2017 was a tough year for the both of us. We often times share our strategies for dealing with the ups and downs of our lives. On that particular night, I shared the strategy of self talk.
Now, EVERYONE deals with stress and anxiety differently, so by no means am I saying my tips are the end all be all. But, I do find a few things extra helpful when I feel myself getting anxious, and I want to share a big one with you…
One thing I have learned over the last year is that when I feel anxious, I am often overthinking a situation. To combat this, I have started using self talk. It is a strategy where you LITERALLY have a conversation with yourself in your head; I use this to talk myself down when I feel I am getting worked up.
“If I worry too much before the event happens, I will be living it more than once.”
Maybe this is just me, but when it comes to my anxiety, I often worry about events that are going to happen in the future. One mantra I repeat to myself when I start getting these overwhelming feelings is, “if I worry too much before the event happens, I will be living it more than once.” I use self talk to ask myself “is there anything I can do IN THIS MOMENT that will help the future situation?”
- If the answer is yes, then I do what I can in that moment to alleviate some of the stress.
- If the answer is no, then I think of ways to get my mind off of whatever is making me feel anxious (there is no reason to keep thinking about it if there is nothing I can do immediately to help.)
“If you are spending that much time in your head, make it a nice place to stay.”
You spend everyday in your head; the person you talk to the most is yourself. If you are spending that much time in your head, make it a nice place to stay. Self care is a topic that I am just beginning to learn about. I am educating myself on more ways to deal with my anxiety in a positive way. I’m learning how to focus on the present, and I surround myself with people who make me feel good.
I want to continue learning self-care tips. What is your biggest strategy for taking care of yourself?!
Granted This Life 