I can guarantee that therapy is not an inch of what you imagine it to be. Whether you have started therapy due to a crisis, or because of recurring anxiety or depression, you learn so much about how to deal with it. A two-week program showed me that I am strong enough to work through anything life throws at me. This is what I learned to make everyday life a little easier.
1. Create affirmations.
Beginning and ending your day with read-aloud affirmations can be centering and reassuring. They are not meant to boost your ego, but rather serve as reality checks depending on what you're going through. Here are 50 Positive Affirmations for Success.
2. Take care of yourself.
While this may seem like a run-of-the-mill mental health tip, just taking a shower when you don't want to, can increase your overall motivation by leaps and bounds. Keeping up with your hygiene is very therapeutic and can facilitate the beginning of self-love. Make a scheduled routine, and stick to it for as long as you need to.
3. Breathe through stressful moments.
Therapy helped me understand that all situations and emotions are temporary. Give yourself a few minutes to focus on only your breathing, and slowing down your heart rate and thoughts. Breathing exercises are common coping skills and for me, are part of stress management. It isn't always easy to stop yourself at the moment, but this habit can make anxiety and stress-inducing circumstances much easier to tackle.
4. Write everything down.
Whether it is putting pen to paper, or making notes on your cellphone, you should write out all of your thoughts. This will get you to physically see if your thinking patterns are benefiting your mental health, or holding you back. I've found that coordinating time to recount your day helps turn self-criticism into positive self-evaluation by getting those spiraling thoughts out of your head.
5. Set realistic goals.
You should make two separate lists of goals. Your short-term goals should be attainable within the next three to six months. Long-term goals are goals you can achieve within the next two to three years. The purpose of these goals is not only to help organize and achieve a better life but also to show you that you belong here and have a purpose. I needed therapy to show me that my goals matter and I can only achieve them by being physically and mentally present.
6. Be patient with yourself.
Trying to apply everything you learn in therapy to your life takes more than a day. Honestly, it takes a few months to align your mind with positive habits. Remain patient with yourself and your timing so you don't lose hope in where you want to be. I learned that every day is an opportunity to evolve, so take advantage of your chance to grow into the best version of yourself.
