These last few years have proven to be challenging for many people across the globe. If you’re finding it difficult to cope with the stressors of everyday life, you are not alone. Fortunately, there are many things you can do in order to improve your mental health and positively cope with whatever life throws your way. Following, are several suggestions to help you explore a variety of coping skills which may work for you.
1. Guided Meditation
While people meditate for many reasons, reducing anxiety and stress are two of the most common reasons why people engage in this spiritual and uplifting practice. Meditation can be done anywhere and doesn’t require any special equipment. There are many guided meditation classes available within local communities and vary in length of duration. People often feel overwhelmed when they experience several stressful events simultaneously. However, guided meditation forces you to slow down, quiet your thoughts, and focus on the present through purposeful deep breathing exercises. Meditation is an efficient skill to utilize when coping with difficult situations.
2. Explore the Art of Journaling
Journaling is a great way to explore your innermost thoughts and solve problems you may be facing. There is no right or wrong way to journal, and many people choose to keep a gratitude journal as part of their positive mental health strategies. Journaling is an effective way for you to explore why you may be feeling the way you do, as well as help you find solutions for whatever problems you may be facing. When we keep our stress and negative thought patterns to ourselves, it can become overwhelming, and cause other issues, such as negative self-talk and doubt in our capabilities to handle our situation. Journaling is a powerful way to cleanse our spirit and help us feel better, no matter the situation.
3. Reframe Your Mindset
Many people who find themselves stressed or overwhelmed, find that it is due to
negative thought patterns. Ruminating is the act of continuously running negative thoughts or worst-case scenarios through our heads over and over again. Catastrophizing often leads to increased anxiety or even depression. By taking the situation and looking at it in a different light, you are better able to handle whatever life throws your way. While this can be a difficult habit to establish, once you are able to do so, you will find that your ability to cope with life becomes more effortless and your mindset will become more positive.
4. Start a Healthy Exercise Routine
Exercise is known as one of the most powerful and natural antidepressants in existence. Exercise causes the release of endorphins, which naturally boost your mood and decrease your anxiety. Engaging in a daily exercise routine can put you in a better frame of mind to effectively tackle life’s problems and deal with your stress in a healthy, positive manner. Starting a regular exercise routine doesn’t require fancy equipment or a gym membership. It could be a simple as going for a morning jog before work or purchasing a few light weights to perform a short workout routine in the comfort of your own home. By incorporating exercise into your coping skills kit you’ll likely find that you feel better, both physically and emotionally.
5. Seek Professional Help Through Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Sometimes, we all need a little more help to get us through our toughest times. If you’re finding it increasingly difficult to cope with your personal situation, and these coping skills and strategies don’t seem to be working, there is hope. Various types of intensive outpatient treatment are available for those who need more assistance in getting through their challenging times, yet don’t require inpatient treatment. Whether you’re having trouble escaping from substance use and addiction, or you’re working on managing your mental health, this treatment option is a wonderful way for you to enjoy the benefits of structured professional therapy, pharmacological tools, and crisis management services, as well as receive individualized treatment plans geared towards improving your situation.
Although life’s challenges can seem overwhelming at times, there is hope. By taking the time to develop positive coping skills and seeking help and support from qualified professionals, you will find yourself on the road to recovery, and enjoy better mental health and improved quality of life.
