We live in a time where people are acutely aware that mental wellness is every bit as important as physical wellness. I would be considered “Gen X” as I grew up in the 1980’s and early 90’s. Those readers born more recently – millennials and going forward – are accustomed to celebrities openly discussing their mental health struggles. Turn on the TV and you’ll see ads for hotlines that will support you if you’re having issues.
Fair to say, that wasn’t always the case.
Allwell’s content in the areas of meditation, yoga, and sleep is second to none. Check out our app for many exercises you can do for immediate relief in these areas. There are also blogs specific to mental health tabbed on this website. But let’s face it – there are times where you’ll have immediate issues that cause you fear, anger, anxiety, and sadness. What is the best way to handle those negative emotions?
The first thing we’d recommend before anything else is to pause1. Acknowledge what’s happening. Then, carefully think through your response: what can you do to make things better for yourself, and if applicable, the people you care about?
If you need to put yourself in a better mental space, there are many ways. Tailor one to your personality and likes. Perhaps you enjoy funny YouTube videos. Maybe a task like cleaning or reorganizing your room would help with a re-set. Something as simple as making a list of the next places you’d like to travel to can be therapeutic. Definitely hydrate and don’t forget to have a healthy meal.
Then, it becomes time to problem solve. We’d suggest writing out a list of possible solutions to whatever made you sad, angry, etc. in the first place. Perhaps brainstorm solutions with a friend or family member. Make a list of your strengths: no matter how down you are at the moment, you are awesome and should remind yourself of that! Finally, if the solution involves another person, be rational, prepared, and specific.
There’s a separate emotional situation that Allwell members may face called rumination, which is obsessing over something negative that you’re afraid might happen to you2. In addition to the above tips, journaling has been found to be effective in managing stress and processing emotions.
If you feel that the matter you’re dealing with calls for outside help, by all means, consider seeing a therapist. The second article footnoted here provides a list of accredited, affordable therapy options. Some are specific to counseling you on personal behavior, others deal with tools to best navigate business relationships, and others are for specific issues such as for those in the LGBTQ+ community.
– Johnny Premier, COO of Allwell
Footnotes
Mental Health of America. “Helpful vs Harmful: Ways to Manage Emotions” – https://www.mhanational.org/helpful-vs-harmful-ways-manage-emotions
VeryWell Mind. “How to Process Feelings Without Slipping into Rumination” – https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-process-feelings-without-slipping-into-rumination-3144935
