Self Management of Mental and Emotional Well-Being

Mental Health has become topical in the last few years with more and more people seeking therapy and taking advantage of available opportunities to find mental health therapists they can resonate with. Mental health therapists seem to agree that while it is important for us to provide an emotionally safe space for clients to process what is going on in their lives, therapy rarely happens during counseling sessions. Successful therapy is when our clients are able to use the tools provided during the counseling session in the “real” world. This thought underscores the concept of self-management of mental and emotional well-being. Whether one is actively and consistently meeting with their therapists or not, there are certain strategies that can help as we seek to manage our mental and emotional well- being. Permit me to suggest 5 such strategies below:

1. Incorporating techniques of dealing with stress: The process of living is fraught with stress, and unless stress is properly managed it can easily lead to anxiety, depression and other mood disorders. Techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, use of stress balls and visualization can go a long way to helping manage stress. Do you notice when you are stressed? Pay attention to furrowed eyebrows, tensed muscles, shallow breathing, and other indications that your body is under stress and then take a few minutes to practice any of the techniques above. Notice how your body slowly relaxes as you de-stress.

2. Applying emotional regulation skills: As we relate with other individuals, professionally or socially, situations of heightened emotions will arise. A person who is not managing their emotional and mental well-being properly will often act based on heightened emotions and say or do things that they will later regret. To prevent this, some self–management strategies include practicing empathy and compassion, giving people the benefit of the doubt, noticing the people and situations that are triggers and giving yourself permission to walk away when you notice that your emotions are heightened. There will always be opportunities to address issues in a way that validates self and others, but this is rarely done during moments of intense emotions.

3. Establishing boundaries: Setting healthy boundaries is important as we seek to protect our mental and emotional well being. Some strategies for doing this at work or in our private spaces include learning to assertively communicate needs, not taking responsibility for other people’s actions, and noticing when we are approaching depletion in all areas of our lives. Those we are in relationships with will not often understand our boundaries, and that is okay, it is not their boundaries. Our task is not to over–explain or justify our boundaries, only to establish and enforce them.

4. Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Counselors, Psychiatrists, Psychologists and even medical doctors agree that there is a strong link between physical health and mental well-being. Self-management of mental and emotional well-being includes regular physical activity, eating properly, adequate sleep and taking time for rest and relaxation. If we are too busy to invest in these physical self-care activities regularly, our mental well- being will be compromised.

5. Knowing when to seek professional help: Just as one goes to medical doctors for regular physicals and check-ups, we must normalize the idea of seeking the services of mental health professionals to walk alongside us in our desire to be mentally and emotionally healthy.

While the above self- management strategies are helpful, they are by no means exhaustive. A mental health counselor will not only suggest additional tools and techniques, but will provide the accountability needed to stay consistent on your mental health journey.

Are you currently in therapy? Are you seeking a mental health therapist? At Afangideh Therapy, our desire is to walk alongside you as you seek to achieve your goal of mental and emotional wholeness. Visit our website today at www.thealabamatherapist.com and have a free consultation with one of our therapists!