November 14th marked the start of self-care week, and it’s a topic that can come with mixed opinions when it comes to the impact that self-care can have on our mental health.
November 14th marked the start of self-care week, and it’s a topic that can come with mixed opinions when it comes to the impact that self-care can have on our mental health. All too often, when somebody has the courage to speak out and seek help with their mental health issues, the response they get is “why don’t you just try doing more things that make you happy”. I remember when I first tried to seek help with my mental illness; the doctor said “so what are your hobbies and interests?” I said “I like photography”, she said “well why don’t you try getting out and taking some photos more often.” – Ah yes, thank you, that is of course the answer to all of my problems. It’s safe to say that I never attempted to seek professional help again after this. This is where the complications lie, because there’s a fine line between ignorance and self-care. Just “doing things that make me happy” is not going to solve my mental illness, however getting in to a routine that encourages me to be kind to myself can have a huge impact.
It has taken me a long time to learn all of this, but recognising small elements of self-care and making an effort to incorporate them in to my life has had the most positive impact on my mental wellbeing. When I start to feel anxious, I recognise that putting on my trainers and going for a little jog along the seafront can help to calm me down. And if I’m not feeling up to leaving the house, I know that cooking a good dinner and putting on my favourite movie can help to take my mind off of things a little. It does not mean that doing these things has made my mental illness vanish completely; it just means that I have more control over it. I spent a lot of my time at university being exhausted, because my anxiety meant that I barely slept at night – I just could not switch off my mind and my body from the things that were going on in my life. Incorporating a self-care routine into my life has had a positive impact on this, because it allows me to wind down and relax my mind more before I go to bed. My routine is to have a nice hot shower, put on my pyjamas and a fresh pair of fluffy socks, choose an episode of something to watch on TV/Netflix and sit on the sofa with a cup of tea and a few biscuits. Different things will work for each of us, so it’s important that your self-care routine is tailored to you and the things that work for you personally.
Self-care is the only thing that helps me to deal with my illness – it encourages me to be kind to myself and to recognise how my mind and body works. The biggest step of self-care that I ever took was writing down my thoughts and feelings; it has enabled me to look at my illness from a new perspective and it has given me the confidence to speak out more about what’s going on in my mind. Talking to others about how you’re feeling is the kindest thing that you could ever do for yourself.
Amongst all of the busyness of university life, it’s so important to take the time to look after yourself, whether you struggle with your mental health or not. There are so many ways in which you can do so, and if you’re looking for a little inspiration I highly recommend The Blurt Foundation (www.blurtitout.org) – their way with words is lovely. I’m also taking part in the hashtag #365daysofselfcare over on Twitter, encouraging me to do one small act of self-care each day – head over to my Twitter @AberSUWelfare to see my journey, and why not join me by starting your own 365 days?