“You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” ― Louise Hay
Oh crap! Once again, I have taken a few steps back on my journey and made silly decisions I know are bad for my mental health. *facepalm* Here we go again! On account of my own choices and actions, I am in an all-too-familiar place. These past few days I’ve been observing that good ol’ anxiety creeping back in again. Yay 😉 I am doing my best to practice self-compassion and not be too judgmental with the mental health symptoms.
Fortunately, it is mild at this stage. Unfortunately, however, it is here. I know that it won’t take much to push them over the edge into more overwhelming anxiety. Feelings of anxiety and depression are a cue for me. They are how I know that I have been making unhealthy choices and are my signs to shape up and get back on the path! It feels as though the mental health symptoms are looming over me. Slowly trying to creep back into the old role they played for years. Indeed, I am not happy to see them and, surely, not welcoming them with open arms!
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Self-Compassion Through Acceptance
But even so, something I have learned throughout the years of suffering from mental health issues is the more I resist the symptoms I feel, the stronger they tend to become. They say what you resist, persists, and I agree with that. When I don’t accept what I am feeling, I suffer much more than I would otherwise. So then, this is how I am approaching the symptoms of anxiety that have re-appeared. Simply, allowing them to be as they are while simultaneously making healthier choices to help them naturally dissolve. Read an article I wrote on things I do for my mental health that, for me, always give me some relief 🙂
I have the knowledge of why these symptoms appeared, as well as the tools to overcome them and send the anxiety packing. In contrast, the place I am at today is night and day compared to the place I was a few years ago when I felt I had no power over my symptoms. And had no idea what to do to deal with them. For this, I am so grateful! With this in mind, I am not upset or resistant to these feelings. This doesn’t mean I like them, but I don’t waste energy on hating them and fighting their presence. I know that they are temporary and will pass. Not everyone is so lucky in that way. Some mental illnesses are far more severe than what I deal with, so again, I am grateful.
Self-Compassion Through Presence
Furthermore, I am working to be as present with the symptoms I feel as much as possible, and let me tell you it is mighty difficult. It’s a serious struggle to sit with feelings that are extremely uncomfortable and make you want to crawl into a hole and hide until they’re gone. I’m doing my best to put these kinds of self-sabotaging thoughts out of my mind and continuously stepping into the present moment. These thoughts only add to my suffering, I keep reminding myself of this.
Ultimately, this is the whole process of life really; keep self-correcting and positively evolving your behavior. Notice when it is unhealthy, counter-productive, and frankly, toxic. Recognize this, and see it for what it is. Just don’t beat yourself up for it. After all, we have all been conditioned and programmed in very unhealthy ways for much of our lives. Therefore, it’s no wonder we have toxic patterns and behaviors.
Practicing self-compassion and empathy for yourself does wonders for a person. There’s no need to be your own enemy and scold yourself every time you mess up. Relax, we’re only human.
The Bigger Picture
Life is about making mistakes and learning from them. We need to take those steps back sometimes to move forward in the future. It’s just important to bring yourself back to the present moment and have awareness of what’s occurring, as often as you can. So then you can make a different choice and take a different action. Without ending up in an a toxic cycle or pattern for too long. The longer you go without awareness, making choices unconsciously, the harder it is to ‘wake up’ and see what you are doing.
Thus, I am working on not beating myself up for the choices I made recently. I am only human and on the learning journey like everyone else. Once again, I will pick myself back up and keep on moving forward. There’s no need for me to be hard on myself, I know I took some missteps, oh well! I will continue to do my best in every moment to make the healthiest choices for myself and my highest good.
Inevitably, I will take more wrong turns and steps backward in the future, and I will pick myself back up again. In the end, that’s what this ride called life is all about. If we were all perfect we really wouldn’t learn much, would we? I will give myself a break and the self-compassion and self-love I need.
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20 thoughts on “Self-Compassion For Mental Health”
Whitney Stewart
I’m right there with you!! It felt like the last couple weeks I unintentionally put self care on the back burner to focus on immediate problems. Needless to say I changed that yesterday. Thanks so much for sharing! Keep posting!
There’s a quote I came across that states “Healing isn’t linear,” and I’m pretty sure it applies to mental health as well. We all have ups and downs, but the important thing is we keep going.
Love this entry! I think your approach using the present moment is right in point. I can relate with resistance instead of acceptance creating more challenges. Thank you for being so honest and sharing!
I’m my own worst critic. I’ve been trying to be more forgiving and attentive to my feelings especially when the depression creeps up on me. I’ve found focusing on positive things help a ton.
It is much easier to be compassionate with others about their mental health and that’s true, we do need to remember to show ourselves the same level of gentleness and compassion that we would in others to help our mental health blossom!
Your article on self-compassion for mental health is a real eye-opener. Your insights and recommendations are refreshingly practical and will surely be of great help to those struggling with their mental health. Your approachable writing style makes it easy to connect with your message. Keep up the fantastic work!
Love this post and making mistakes is a normal part of life…. the difference are those that learn from those mistakes and that do not repeat them and those that make them over and over again 😉
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I’m right there with you!! It felt like the last couple weeks I unintentionally put self care on the back burner to focus on immediate problems. Needless to say I changed that yesterday. Thanks so much for sharing! Keep posting!
Yes, people do need more compassion and understanding. Some can be so cruel.
One of my biggest faults is that I am my own worst critic.
So motivational & absolutely true! I wish more people felt this way.
There’s a quote I came across that states “Healing isn’t linear,” and I’m pretty sure it applies to mental health as well. We all have ups and downs, but the important thing is we keep going.
Love this entry! I think your approach using the present moment is right in point. I can relate with resistance instead of acceptance creating more challenges. Thank you for being so honest and sharing!
Seriously, saying “I’m doing my best” and I am allowed to not be on 100% each day , every day” has done a lot for my mental health. Great read!
This is such a great post. I love it. I think there is so much you can do to help with mental health. I’m sure glad you posted about this.
We do learn from our mistakes. We also need not be so hard on ourselves when we make a mistake.
I’m my own worst critic. I’ve been trying to be more forgiving and attentive to my feelings especially when the depression creeps up on me. I’ve found focusing on positive things help a ton.
It’s always great to learn more about ways to take care of ourselves and be kinder to ourselves, especially during these challenging times.
We will all make plenty of mistakes in our lives. The important thing is that we learn from them and grow.
It’s a new point of view: try to approve yourself. I need to start from this! Hope things can change!
It’s definitely difficult to sit in your symptoms. My daughter suffers from anxiety and depression. She has grown a lot though through therapy.
It is much easier to be compassionate with others about their mental health and that’s true, we do need to remember to show ourselves the same level of gentleness and compassion that we would in others to help our mental health blossom!
Your article on self-compassion for mental health is a real eye-opener. Your insights and recommendations are refreshingly practical and will surely be of great help to those struggling with their mental health. Your approachable writing style makes it easy to connect with your message. Keep up the fantastic work!
Making a mistake is normal and it’s also a part of process, but what’s more important is the learnings that we get on that mistake
That’s amazing! This is one of the most interesting topics! Thank you for sharing this information with me.
Love this post and making mistakes is a normal part of life…. the difference are those that learn from those mistakes and that do not repeat them and those that make them over and over again 😉
People do need to be more compassionate and understanding! I love this post! <3