Ways to Help Yourself
Identify Warning Signs
Being able to identify when a period of unwell behavior might be setting in is a vital skill to learn, and if you can pass this knowledge onto those around you then this is an even better idea.
Try and log triggers of what set off this behavior, or how you were feeling before the symptoms set in, to locate patterns and stop episodes before they set in.
Don’t Be Afraid to Talk
Talk to those around you. While you may be scared of what people may say or think, the more people are educated about mental health, the greater the understanding they will have. Your friends will be able to support you and help you during your times of need, and can provide perspectives on how you feel.
Staying Healthy in College
Following a healthy lifestyle is also important in helping to maintain good mental health. While you are away at college or university it can be hard to do so, but if you try these tips you can help look after yourself:
- Try and maintain a healthy diet. Avoid too much fat and sugar as the highs and the crashes from too much junk food can hinder your mental health.
- Take part in gentle exercise. A lot of educational facilities have gyms and exercise classes which will not only help to boost your serotonin levels, but will also help you to bond with others and make new social connections.
- Try and manage stress. While stress is an unavoidable part of life, learning techniques to manage it can be extremely beneficial. For example, in highly stressful situations you may find breathing techniques to calm yourself down work well, or taking regular breaks from work in order to assess your progress.
- Try yoga or meditation, which are designed to help everyone relax. You may also benefit from learning mindfulness, which teaches you to be more in contact with the way you are feeling and can help you process thoughts. Equally, just as with exercise classes, yoga classes could also result in social connections and strong bonds of friendship.
Sometimes in times of crisis it is unavoidable to stay out of an inpatient setting, and a stay in hospital may be needed. If you are in school this may be disruptive to your schedule and may cause a great deal of upset.
It is important to give yourself time to process what has happened, and to work through how you are feeling. Don’t be too hard on yourself on your discharge, and try to work towards a more stable mental health level before launching back into the full swing of education.
Work with the medical team you are assigned, and put everything you have into recovery. Try not to work against professionals — remember they are only there to help you.
Most importantly, in times of severe crisis please ensure you visit the emergency room as soon as possible, or contact the relevant medical professionals quickly. If your area has an emergency or crisis line then make use of it, all these services are there to help you in your recovery.
