A Mental Wellness Plan

I have been plagued by anxiety and panic attacks since my early twenties. ‘Back in the day’, little was known about the undeniably paralyzing effects of these experiences. Today, there is so much information that one should never have to remain in the black hole of anxiety or become controlled by panic. Yet, no amount of information will help ease the effects of anxiety and panic unless you have a plan in place.

In recent months my anxiety and panic attacks have escalated.  I am beginning to experience an inability to cope with daily problems and activities. The desire to do the things I enjoy is slowly disappearing. I am becoming consumed by excessive fears, worries, and anxieties. As a mental health professional I know that I cannot handle this alone. It’s time to rely on the training and expertise of another mental health professional.

With the decision made to go into therapy to learn to help myself through situations where I have begun to feel so helpless, I have also made the decision to start implementing a  personal wellness plan. I don’t have the whole plan of action together. It’s a slow process. I have to give myself time to see what will work and what doesn’t work.

So here is what I was thinking. No one is ever alone. There must be other individuals who are trying to find their way through some tough spots. There are others who must question whether it is time to seek professional help. Other individuals who desire to get started on a mental wellness plan. Women like me, who want to let go of or learn to manage what they feel is holding them back from their fullest potential.

I’d like to share some information and ideas.

Here is a list of generalized warning signs that you or someone you love may need to speak to a mental health professional:

• Prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
• Feelings of extreme highs and lows
• Excessive fears, worries and anxieties
• Social withdrawal
• Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
• Strong feelings of anger
• Delusions or hallucinations
• Growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• Suicidal thoughts
• Denial of obvious problems
• Numerous unexplained physical ailments
• Substance abuse

And some ideas to begin putting your own personalized mental wellness plan in place:

• Eat sensibly. I am beginning to explore the value of certain vitamins in relation to anxiety and depression such as Omega3 and vitamin B12.
• Maintain friendships. This is something I am working on. In recent years I have grown apart from the one friend I could share my darkest moments with. Beginning new friendships is a difficult and complicated process for me. Yet, I will commit to making that one small step.
• Learn something new. I am going to start taking different classes at the local scrapbook store. This month I am going to take a beginning Quilling class. Something I have never tried before.
• Acknowledge three good things. Bring the focus back to all that is good in your life. I have begun to do this with my new Friday meme called ‘My Joyful Journal‘. Perhaps this would be a great beginning in the development of your own mental wellness plan.
• Keep an eye on personal stress. Learning to say no will help tame the ‘bad’ stress which can certainly act as a trigger for those days when you may feel yourself ‘going over the edge’. This is a stressful time for my family. Not because of my recent flare ups with anxiety and panic, but because of the illness of another close family member. Saying no to many other things is critical to keeping only the things on your ‘plate’ that are manageable.
• Talk about your feelings. This is why I blog (grin).
• Get enough light. Make sure you get your daily requirement of fresh air and sunshine. Even if you are in your pajamas (like me). I make sure I sit outside at least thirty minutes…and not under the shade of the orange tree. Our bodies need a certain amount of sunshine each day….go soak some up.

Although there are oodles of ideas to get you on the right track with positive mental health, these are the ones that I have begun with. I hope that the information provided in this post and the ideas that I have begun to implement in regards to my own mental wellness, have provided you with the knowledge and understanding that we are never alone. There is always someone who knows exactly how you feel. It’s just a matter of talking about it.

Don’t forget, if there is a question that you would like to have answered or a topic you would like to have discussed, be sure to email me at dbeverlyhills@gmail.com. All questions will remain anonymous. All answers will be sprinkled with my perspective.