Mental health and wellness need not be confined exclusively to working with clinicians. While the benefit of a good, qualified social worker, psychologist, or other mental health professional should not be underestimated, there are many different good choices that each of us can make the most of during those less challenging moments of our lives. Self-care is a concept that we here at Open Arms Center value greatly as effective tools to prevent unhealthy habits and maintain healthy ones. Simple, oft-time low-cost activities such as reading, taking a walk, talking to a trusted friend, hobbies, and so on are but a few examples of self-care.
Another useful example of self-care is found in the following repost from another blog.
"There are those who deal with the blues and depression with therapists and drugs, and then there are those who put on a Cuban track. There's something sensual and exciting about the riffing and repetition that just drives it all away. Latinos call it despojando. It works, trust me."- Al Angeloro, [originally posted on Un Bohio Blog]
Maybe you, too, find music to be helpful when you need to feel a little better. Think about the things that make life a little sweeter for you and start writing them down. Keep them handy for the tougher moments as a helpful reminder of what brings a smile to your heart. Who knows? Maybe your list may help you help someone else, too.
