5 Tips to Deal With Mental Health When You’re Not Ready for Help
What do you do when you’re in a mental health hole and don’t want help? I have 5 tips to help you deal until you’re ready.
Last night when I was choosing me over finishing a blog post that was supposed to go live yesterday I realized I needed to write a different one for today. My budget post will come out next week. This week I am going to focus on mental health.
I have had a few conversations with different people over the last week that got me thinking. With my blog I really want to be able to help others.
I want this blog to inspire others, give them ideas, help them laugh or cry, and brighten someone’s day. I feel that today’s post is just what needs to be written.
When you are in a down slop in your mental health journey it can be so hard to get out of that hole. I know this. I’ve been there, so deep and dark and I needed to get out.
I needed to get out so bad that I was finally ready to do what needed to be done to get out. That’s when I started to open up more with Eddy and my family. That is when I sought out professional help.
After these conversations and thinking about my own journey I realized I needed to give advice for when you are in a deep hole but are not ready to help yourself.
You’re not ready to claw your way out of the hole. And that is okay! Did you hear me? THAT’S OKAY!
It is very much a lonely and sucky place to be. If you are not ready for help then the help will be much wasted. I’m sure you’ve heard that you have to hit rock bottom before you can go up.
Sometimes this is the case with depression, anxiety, and many other mental health issues. Sometimes you don’t have to hit rock bottom to know you are ready for that help.
Here are 5 tips to help while you are waiting to be ready for more help.
Smile at Yourself
This may sound silly but even just a simple act like a quick smile at yourself in the mirror can change a lot inside. Start your day with a quick smile. End your day with another quick smile.
Think about how it makes you feel. Maybe you’ll find yourself smiling in the mirror every time you pass one. If you can not muster a smile then turn the corners of your mouth up. You’ll get to a smile.
Drink Lots of Water
The past few days I have noticed that my lips are dryer and my stomach has been hurting. I realized I have not been getting enough water. When your body is hydrated it is happier.
When you drink more water you may eat less because you are not in fact hungry. This may help with unwanted weight gain when you are more depressed or anxious.
Move Your Body
It is so very hard to workout when you are depressed! You’d rather do ANYTHING else then work out. (At least for me). That’s when you need to work out the most.
Walk up and down the stairs 5 times. Walk around the block. Dance to a song with your kids. Move your body however it feels good for you. Start small and work your way up.
It has been proven that working out and moving your body produces endorphins and that helps you to feel better.
I noticed that when I do more yoga I am more relaxed, I will randomly find myself doing yoga breathing when I’m not doing yoga. My mental health and physical health improved.
Make Yourself Be Social
I am not talking about being present on social media. If you are struggling with your mental health you should probably take a break or at least cut back.
This may not be best for everyone but when I was depressed and we had a family or friend thing I would push whatever was eating me up to the back and be more of myself.
It was great to somewhat forget. I loved feeling “normal” again. I’m not suggesting to go out every time you get and ignore what’s happening with you.
What I’m suggesting is to be with people that love you. Be with people that make you laugh and lessen your worries. If you feel like bringing up what’s bothering you do it! You’ll be happy that you did and it will be freeing.
Pray
It doesn’t matter if you are spiritual or not. If you are, then pray away for help and guidance. Pray for the desire to get help and to want to be okay.
If you are not spiritual then pray or talk about what you are going through. By talking out some of the things in your head you might figure some stuff out. Or you might get to the point where you are ready for the next step.
You might even be ready to start to talk to someone: a loved one, friend, or a therapist.
I know that some of you reading this are just rolling your eyes. But believe me when I tell you that I have been there. I have lived in the deep and dark pits.
Because of that I also know that you have to be ready before you can start to health and acct on the help that you are given. I realized that by talking with some friends and my mom and sister this past week that even if you know what you need to do (because you have been there before) you still have to be ready and in the right state.
My Advice
So here is my advice for those in that spot: It’s tough and crappy. But hang on because you WILL want to get help eventually and when you are ready it will make your recovery better.
This is my advice for those looking in on someone in a deep, dark pit: You can not make them do something they are not ready for. You can suggest any and everything under the moon. If they are not ready to talk to someone then talking to someone will be a waste of time and money.
Be patient with them. Love them. Ask them how they are doing. Go for walks with them. Pray for them. Invite them to go places or things. Invite yourself over for a night in. Keep in touch and let them know you are there for them when they are ready. Validate what they tell you.
Don’t push them for something they are not ready for. Don’t judge them. You may not know what they are going through. Don’t forget them or ignore them.
Mental health is real and painful! Please remember that you are enough! You are worth everything! Know that there are people happily waiting for you to get to the point where you are ready for help or more help.
Xxx, Steph
Here are some great resources to help aid in your mental health journey:
- National Helpline
- Suicide Prevention Helpline
- Google mental health help
Here are some links to blog posts I’ve written about mental health and ways to help oneself.
Thank you for sharing your story. I like the combination of prayer and physical activity, drinking water etc. So helpful for everything.
Beth, thank you so much for your kind words! 🙂