Navigating Mental Health: A Guide To Get Unstuck
So you want to improve your mental health, but if you’re already feeling stressed and overwhelmed, it’s hard to know where or how to start. Facing and understanding our experiences with a structured approach is crucial.
When we’re stressed, high adrenaline can cause us to shut down and run away from the situation, but this only delays our ability to overcome and move past the issue. Having a starting point can help keep you from getting stuck.
Here’s one way to explore your experience and address your mental well-being as part of self-care.
1. Recognize Your Current State
I ground myself first by identifying my starting and end points:
Identify What You Feel: Start by acknowledging your current emotions and experiences. Are you feeling down, stressed, or overwhelmed?
Clarify Your Desired State: What emotions do you aspire to feel? Whether it’s peace, upliftment, or happiness, defining this is a step toward transformation.
2. Ask Clear Questions To Propel Change
This is my personal 3-step approach to explore any challenge:
Question 1: What am I experiencing or feeling right now?
Question 2: What do I want to feel instead? What are my goals?
Question 3: What actions should I take to achieve these feelings or goals?
3. Explore Specific Areas That Need To Be Addressed
Look honestly at what stands between your current and desired state. What are the obstacles and barriers that need addressing? Remember to always explore these three areas that influence your well-being:
Physiology: Consider biological aspects such as physical health and bodily functions.
Psychology: Reflect on your mind, thought patterns, and behaviors.
Environment: Evaluate external factors that influence your mental state, including life stories and past and present experiences.
4. Develop Actionable Steps
Focus on identifying practical steps that you can take to move beyond your current mental state. Is there anything in your physiology, psychology, and environment that needs to be addressed? What’s the most urgent item? What resources do you need to seek? When will you take action?
Empowering Yourself Through Knowledge.
It’s important to explore strategies that work for you. This means you must sit down and think about your experience to find solutions and enhance your mental and emotional well-being.
This guide has helped me get through the most challenging times in my personal and professional life. It’s more than just a way to understand your emotions—it’s a transformative tool that empowers you to take control of your mental health.
By breaking down the complex interplay of physiology, psychology, and environment, you can discover the next best move. Understanding is the first step to overcoming. Try these insights as you navigate your mental health and self-care journey, knowing that each step you take will lead to a healthier, happier you.