Mental health care should be as daily and normal as brushing your teeth

Mental health means taking care of your mind like you would take care of your body on a daily basis. It’s as important to care for yourself mentally as it is to brush your teeth – and it should be as normal as that too.

A friend put this thought into my mind the other day and I just can’t shake it. This week I truly found out exactly where my stress limits are and how I feel when I hit them. This friend gave me heck for not scheduling in time for myself like I schedule in other work. And she’s completely right.

I’ve always struggled with anxiety, depression and psychosis and I will for the rest of my life. Some days are better than others that’s for sure. And some seem downright impossible. I’ve learned through trail and error some tools to help me get through the tough times, and how to handle fits of emotion when they come uncontrollably. But i’ve rarely given much thought to how I should be taking care of myself so those fits don’t happen in the first place.

Schedule time for yourself. Consider it a preemptive measure the way you start taking cold medication or drinking a ton of OJ when you feel a cold coming on to try and keep it at bay. Do the same thing with your mind, and maybe you won’t hit those limits.

In our busy lives of school, work, and other obligations we plan plan plan how to manage those, and often put them above all others. Newsflash: none of that is going to get done if you’re not around to do it. So take care of yourself so that you ARE. You are just as, if not MORE important than the work on your plate.

I wish taking “mental health days” was a more prominent part of our society. It could help so many people with their quality of life, and probably make them much more productive as well. (Hint Hint to all the bosses out there…)

Today I finally said no to doing something extra. I felt guilty at first, but then I had to shake myself. I deserve a little time for myself. I NEED a little time for myself.

Now I’m really proud of myself. It was a big moment for me and i’m glad I took it.

I encourage all of you to do it as well. Make a date with yourself. Schedule it into your agenda…IN INK. And make it a non negotiable. You’ll thank yourself for doing it.

 

Sad But Rad: Wear Your Label

It’s okay to be sad.

Really.

wearyourlabel.com

Recognizing this and truly believing in it can have a strong impact on how you mange your sad days. Tell yourself that it’s okay to have a bad day. It’s okay to want to curl up in bed and watch Netflix for hours. It’s okay to turn off your phone and ignore the world.

But don’t forget the balance. Taking a day to yourself might be just what your mind and body need to rejuvenate – but not leaving your bed for weeks on end isn’t the answer.

Own your sad days.

“1 in 5 people live with mental illness, but 5 in 5 have mental health. So why aren’t we talking about it?”

That’s exactly what the creators of Wear Your Label are saying. Kayley and Kyle were both suffering from mental health concerns when they teamed up to fight the stigma of mental illness though fashion. And it’s brilliant.

wearyourlabel.com

Through clever sayings on t shirts and tank tops, Wear Your Label encourages those struggling with their mental health to take ownership of the conversation and not let the stigma define them.

Wear Your Label is living art fighting mental illness one t shirt at a time.

And they’re rad.

Paint Night – paint your pallet blue and grey

Group Art Therapy: Why not paint with your friends and family?

Most cities have Paint Nights, where you can gather a group of friends and spend the night making art and drinking wine. Usually you’re all painting the same cookie-cutter scenery, but of course everyone’s turns out differently – usually hilariously different!

Relax, have a drink, enjoy the company of some good pals, and laugh your ass off. Laughter is therapy too hey?

Check out Paint Nite to see upcoming evenings in Winnipeg! There’s one pretty much every night, sometimes a few different ones a night! And mostly held at bars where there are snacks and booze. Oh and did I mention wine?

My sister and I were commissioned (by our mother…) to make a large painting. Although we didn’t have a bar and a bunch of friends, we did have a garage, a killer playlist and each other.

Here’s a short film I put together documenting our day!