Mental Illnesses And Self-Care Tips To Cope Up

Mental illnesses are real and they’re everywhere.

We all experience them in some way, shape, or form, even if it’s just a little bit.

But if you’re struggling with a mental illness, it can feel like there is no way to get better.

Self-care is about taking care of yourself so that you can be the best version of yourself possible.

It doesn’t matter what kind of mental illness you have (or think you have), these tips will help you cope with your condition and live a happier life.

What Is A Mental Illness?

Mental illnesses are a broad range of conditions that affect your mood, thinking, and behavior.

Mental illnesses are common.

They range from mild to severe, and some can be managed well with support from family, friends, and mental health professionals.

A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, or ability to relate to others.

A mental illness can interfere with one’s ability to function at home, work, or school.

5 Common Mental Illnesses

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The term “mental illness” is a broad one, and it can be used to describe everything from the very common to the more severe disorder.

It’s important to know that when someone uses the term “mental illness,” they’re usually referring to something along these lines.

A condition that causes someone to experience symptoms of distress or disability that interfere with their ability to function in daily life.

Mental illnesses are treatable (though not always curable), but because they affect the brain, they often require long-term care and support.

Some people recover completely, while others may find themselves coping with symptoms for many years.

Here are some examples of conditions that fall under mental illnesses:

1. Depression

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Depression is a common mental illness that affects millions of people every year.

Depression can range from mild to severe, and it can affect people’s ability to work, study, eat well, or even sleep.

There are many types of depression.

Some people feel sad all the time, while others may experience feelings of emptiness or hopelessness.

It’s important to know that you’re not alone and that there are ways to help yourself feel better.

2. Anxiety

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Anxiety is the most common mental illness in most countries, affecting 40 million adults over the course of a year.

Anxiety disorders are characterized by feelings of tension, worry, and fear.

People with anxiety have sudden attacks of terror that strike without warning.

Generalized anxiety disorder involves chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday things such as money, health, family problems, or work.

Social anxiety disorder involves intense fear of social situations where embarrassment may occur.

However, many self-care ideas can be done to treat anxiety.

3. Bipolar Disorder

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Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder.

It can cause unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

People with bipolar disorder experience extreme emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).

These mood changes can be very different from each other and from a person’s usual emotional state.

Mood changes are often severe enough to cause problems with relationships and work or school life.

The good news is that there are treatments that can help control symptoms of bipolar disorder.

These treatments help in making it easier to manage your condition and get back to living your life.

4. Schizophrenia

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Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that can affect your thinking, perception, and behavior.

People with schizophrenia may hear voices or see things that aren’t there, speak in strange ways, and behave in odd or inappropriate ways.

As many as 1 in 2 people who have schizophrenia also have problems managing their emotions.

Schizophrenia can be treated with medication and therapy.

With treatment, many people with schizophrenia are able to lead productive lives.

Despite this treatment, they may still have symptoms from time to time.

5. Panic Disorder

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Panic disorder is a mental illness that causes people to have sudden, unexpected panic attacks.

These attacks can be so severe that they cause physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness.

People with panic disorder may also experience other symptoms related to anxiety, such as fear of being alone or of being in public places.

Panic disorder can be treated with medication and therapy.

5 Self-Care Tips To Cope-Up With A Mental Illness

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You know your mental illness is a serious thing.

You can’t just ignore it and hope it will go away.

But what if you’ve tried everything?

What if you’ve gone to therapy, taken your medications, and still feel like you’re at rock bottom?

I know what that’s like.

And I know how hard it can be to find ways to cope with your mental illness when you feel like nothing is working for you.

That’s why I’ve put together this list of seven self-care tips to help you cope with your mental illness, no matter how difficult things are right now:

1. Practice Self-Compassion

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One of the most important things you can do to cope with a mental illness is to practice self-compassion.

This means recognizing that it’s okay to have a mental illness, and understanding that everyone has their own struggles.

It also means being gentle and kind to yourself, rather than beating yourself up for the things that are difficult for you.

Here are some ways to practice self-compassion:

When you’re having a hard time, try saying things like “I’m really sorry that this is so hard.” or “I know I’m struggling right now.”
Make sure you’re taking good care of yourself. Try to see if there’s anything in your life that needs fixing or adjusting (like poor sleep habits).
Get outside and exercise because it can help relieve stress and anxiety!

2. Exercise Daily

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Exercise is one of the best self-care tips to cope with a mental illness.

Exercise can help you feel happier by releasing endorphins and reducing stress, it can improve your sleep, and it’s a great way to keep your body healthy.

Exercise is also a good way to relieve anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders by helping you focus on something else besides your symptoms.

If you have a physical disability, don’t let that stop you from exercising!

There are many ways to exercise without using your hands or feet.

Exercising at home with resistance bands or through stretching are just two examples.

You can also try swimming or doing yoga at home (or in the water).

You might not want to exercise every day at first, but gradually increasing the number of days per week that you do it will help prevent burnout and improve your overall health!

3. Eat Healthy Food And Drink Water

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Eating healthy foods and drinking water is a great way to take care of your body.

It’s also a good way to cope with mental illness.

When you’re feeling down, it can be easy to overindulge in comfort foods like pizza or ice cream.

But those foods are high in sugar and fat and they won’t make you feel better!

Instead, try eating something light that will fill you up without weighing you down.

You can also try drinking some vegetable juice or other healthy drink instead of water when you’re feeling thirsty.

The more often you stay hydrated and eat nutritious foods, the better your mood will be!

4. Avoid Drugs And Alcohol

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It is easy to drink alcohol or take drugs when you are feeling stressed or anxious.

However, alcohol and drugs can make your symptoms worse in the long run.

The more you drink and use drugs, the more likely you are to develop problems with addiction.

5. Get Enough Sleep

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This one may seem obvious, but it can be really hard to get enough sleep when you’re constantly struggling with your mental health.

We know it’s tempting to stay up late and watch Netflix every night, but that can actually make it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.

If you’re having trouble getting a good night’s rest, try these tips:

Set a bedtime and stick to it (even if that means going to bed earlier than normal);
Sleep in a dark room or under black-out curtains (you can even buy special ones if you have trouble sleeping with sunlight coming into your room);
Turn off all electronics an hour or two before bed (including phones and computers); and
Don’t drink caffeine after lunchtime.

6. Seek Out Support From Others

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One of the most important things you can do is to find someone who understands what you’re going through.

It must be important to take note that relationships should have healthy boundaries.

It can be hard to reach out for help, but once you do it, you’ll feel so much better.

If you’re struggling with a mental illness, there are many different people in your life who want to help.

And one of them is probably right next to you!

When they find out that you have a mental illness, they might be worried about how they can help or how they should act around you.

But there are simple things anyone can do that will make a big difference:

Ask them how they’re feeling and listen carefully before responding.
Don’t judge or criticize what they say or do; instead, try to understand where they’re coming from and offer support when possible.
You might also need some extra time for yourself as well!

7. Doing Something You Enjoy Everyday

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If you’re living with a mental illness, it can feel like the world is constantly spinning out of control.

You might not be able to control what’s happening around you, but there’s one thing that you can always control how you react to it.

That’s why we think one of the best ways to cope with a mental illness is to do something that makes you happy every day.

It doesn’t have to be anything big.

It just needs to be something that gives you a little boost at the end of your day.

Maybe it’s taking a walk in the park or baking cookies for your friends.

Maybe it’s reading a book or going for a run.

Maybe it’s writing in your journal or calling up an old friend.

Whatever floats your boat!

Just make sure that there’s something in your life that makes you happy, then hold on tight and don’t let go!

Seek Help!

You’ve probably heard the phrase “self-care” thrown around a lot lately.

But what does it actually mean?

Well, to put it simply, self-care is all about taking care of yourself in a way that makes you feel good physically and mentally.

And when you’re dealing with a mental illness, it can be difficult to take care of yourself in healthy ways.

In fact, sometimes it can be downright impossible.

But remember, it is not.

I’ve been in therapy for a long time and I gained a lot from it.

So, I am now telling you to try.

If it is not possible in your area, don’t worry.

Therapy has gone online and a very reliable platform is BetterHelp.

If you wanted to know more about BetterHelp, click the link below to read my review.

I can assure you, it’s worth it!

Alison’s Notebook

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