#depression relief

[safe-haven-safe-place]

Art by @hayleydrewthis

[haruharuz]

Self Therapy; A Note

I've been pondering about this concept for quite a while now. Therapy itself is a wonderful tool to pick your broken pieces up and gently glue them back together- as if they were never broken at all.

However, not everyone has the resources to truly indulge in such tools. So I mulled over the idea of doing therapy almost at home. While it won't be as effective, as far as my personal experience goes, therapists typically give out homework to their patients.

I want to make it clear that because you're doing this kind of thing at home, it is vital to remain cautious. This is not medical advice, just something to consider.

If you do not have the resources to go to therapy, doing a self therapy session every single week could be beneficial, I think. I'm making a little guide on how exactly I personally am choosing to do this.

(●´∀｀●)

Step One: Choose An App

There are many many free apps specifically geared towards mental health. I've used a few, one of which being "WYSA" which I personally enjoyed. Pick one you think would suit you!

I enjoy these apps primarily because they typically have some free form of help. Like breathing exercises, meditation, etc! You can skip this step if you don't feel comfortable.

Step Two: Find Resources Online

You can easily find a lot of free resources online by looking up "therapy worksheet" "anxiety worksheet" "depression worksheet" etc.

Find a couple that you think would suit you to work on for the first week. The more you find, I recommend stockpiling them into a folder! This way, every new session you can either pre-plan said worksheets or grab a couple quickly.

I also highly recommend looking for journal prompts! Especially shadow work journal prompts that help you release certain emotions. You can do this with pen and a notebook or you can use a laptop/tablet for this! If you don't feel secure, password protect documents or hide your journal in a very safe place.

Step Three: Plan your first Session

Identify what you would like to address/work on during the session. Write it down.

Find the worksheets and exercises you want to do, plan them out. It's easier to go ahead and print/write/type them now and put them in a folder with a clear name. (e.g. ST.session1)

Find a day in the week when you know you will have at least one hour of free time. During this one hour of free time, you will be taking the time to do all of your things ! You can do this before bed, in the middle of the day. Just choose a time you think would be best.

I recommend setting a small goal every 1-2 sessions. Remember, goals should be reasonable, attainable, and measurable. Little steps. (For instance, if you struggle with severe social anxiety like I did, you can make a goal "order a coffee one time", but there's many ways to do this)

You can add more to this if you want! Please remember, you can add a face mask and reading a nice book, or other coping skills/self care to this if you think it might help. I recommend choosing things based off on how much time you have and how effective they are at helping you cope. You can also add them all separately to a "self care" day weekly. Up to you.

Example Setup

I'm sharing my personal set-up and plan with you! Some people need visuals <3

This is my folder set up:

as you can see, I have three folders inside a "self therapy" folder!

inside the "journaling" folder, I have three documents that align with the session outline (pictured next) that is in its respective folder. The first one has a journal prompt, the second two are completely blank and only named. They're just sitting there, waiting and ready!

This is my session outline. It includes what issues I'll be addressing and what exercises I'll be doing. Also, the next goal I'd like to work towards. This includes how I plan to do so. I also put a clear DAY and TIME for this session.

This is the worksheet I'll be doing:

And that's all! I'll be following this tomorrow and drinking some chocolate milk and relaxing :3 not too shabby, huh! Don't forget, if you are ever thinking about hurting yourself: call a hotline.

[angelnumber27]

Sometimes when you’re really struggling you literally just have to force yourself to do the hard things because they help the most. For myself, I have to make sure I’m doing certain things every day to help manage my mental state. I’ve learned that sitting around wallowing is the worst thing you can do. Be like your own little parent, gently make yourself eat a little when you need to, drink water, shower, get some time outside. Something simple like a change of scenery or a good meal or shower can definitely change how you’re feeling for the better!! I say this from experience and with so much love❤️❤️❤️

[eatclean-bewhole]

[ezradysus]

No matter how depressed you are, there is always a dog out there really excited to see you through a car window.

[milena-bond]

Why don't he/she love me? Why we can't be together? #love #depression #d...

[misasmagick]

Struggling with depression or low energy levels? Try this mood-boosting, uplifting citrus perfume! Currently available in an 8ml glass rollerball bottle, or a 60ml plastic spray bottle.

Link to my Etsy :)

[mereeples]

So what exactly is this book: this is really a series of essays, mostly dealing with fears and anxieties that I have and how I can work to overcome them. I guess it will sort of be like a diary about how I feel about certain things and how my mind works through them. This is sort of a personal piece but not too much. I'm not going to be too personal with the experiences I've had in life or name actual people or places if I do. I'm not really writing this to gain sympathy, I'm hoping that my words can somehow give a sort of wisdom to others or maybe help them avoid the situations I was in.

The words are my own, thank you for giving this a chance.

:3

[adhd-dog-guy]

My iPhone photography from past weekend

[lovingmindfulness]

Coloring books available on Amazon!

[natdoctor]

Reclaiming Peace: Acupuncture for Stress and Anxiety

Rediscover serenity with acupuncture for stress and anxiety relief. Unwind from life's pressures as acupuncture targets key points to alleviate tension, promote relaxation, and restore inner calm. Experience a natural approach that harmonizes mind and body, reducing the burden of stress and anxiety. Embrace tranquility and reclaim your peace of mind with the soothing benefits of acupuncture guiding your path to emotional wellness.

[safe-haven-safe-place]

@lesleyimgart

[tessaannedesigns]

Willow the Flamingo. 🦩 💜

[eatclean-bewhole]

[livingwellnessblog]

Yoga's Potential for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Scientific Exploration

Yoga's Ancient Wisdom in Modern Psychiatry: A Fusion of Ancient Wisdom and Modern Challenges

Yoga’s Potential for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Scientific Exploration Understanding the Global Mental Health Challenge To understand mental health challenges, we must first acknowledge the shortcomings of conventional approaches. Mental illnesses, despite advancements in treatment accessibility, continue to cast a shadow on global health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted…