If your mental health has ever taken a nose dive, you may fully understand how difficult it can be to go back to the way you may have felt before.
And since everyone's mental health journey is different, I thought it would be important to share this Reddit thread where user u/Mrgoodietwoshoes asked the r/AskWomen community: "Women of Reddit, what is the best thing you have done for your mental health?" Here's what they had to say:
(Also: This article is not to replace seeing a medical professional. Mental health illnesses are specific to each individual person.)
1. "Learn when to disengage. There is a lot of garbage out there in the form of social media, people’s opinions, etc. Being willing to say, 'OK, I’m done with this conversation,' is highly important."
2. "Got blood work done. My anxiety, paranoia, depression, and aggression all stemmed from my thyroid. In finding out my thyroid wasn't doing its job, I was able to get on medication, and for the first time since my early teen years, I feel normal and functional. Who would’ve ever guessed a tiny butterfly-shaped gland controlled EVERYTHING in my body?!"
3. "I was almost done getting my master's degree when my mental health took a serious hit after an unfortunate timing of events. So I took a break and got a low-paying job. It got me out of the house and among people (co-workers) during the lockdown, it brought structure to my life, it gave me a sense of purpose, and, even though it didn't pay well, it allowed me to save up a lot, which was a lot better than staying in bed all day. After six months, I started to do better and picked up pieces of my life. I took a mindfulness course, I built a social network, and after a year I finished my master's degree anyway."
4. "Getting a dog. Holy crap, this little baby is a lifesaver. Even my bad days are a little bit brighter because I cuddle up next to my handsome baby puppy when I go to bed. I love that puppy, and he brings me joy every day."
5. "Never taking myself too seriously. Work on me and my issues, and I've completed my 'cat lady' goals, and I'm proud of it."
6. "Found the right medication for me."
7. "Limited my interactions with anyone who used me as a diary/therapist. Sometimes I’ll even stop engaging with them if they take it too far. I've been told I’m easy to talk to, but the key word is 'to.' I don’t like it when someone just talks at me."
8. "Focus on me: The only opinion about me and my life that really matters is mine, so I stopped wasting my time wondering what others will think. Assume people have good intentions. If I'm constantly wasting energy wondering if someone is telling the truth or being a nefarious plotter against me, I get paralyzed with anxiety. Now, for all intents and purposes, everyone is nice (if they are not, it's their fault, not mine)."
9. "Reshuffling my professional commitments to be lower-stress and to allow for more time off."
10. "Tracking my PMS cycle so that I know when the most depressing drop in estrogen is due (it always used to take me by surprise and make me feel like everything was going wrong in life until I realized it was hormones)."
11. "Therapy and I got screened for ADHD. I have it. I am currently waiting for an ASD screening. It is such a relief to realize I'm not broken and it's just how my brain works."
12. "Turning off the internet at 4 p.m. every day. Too much screentime just leaves you perpetually distracted, drained, and unable to face your life or live it in a meaningful way. If I use the internet all night, I just feel zoned out, like crap, sluggish, etc."
13. "Recognizing that everyone else is terrified inside, even those who act super cool or confident."
14. "I’ve decided to love myself first. That means I have boundaries and no means no. I am not a self-assigned martyr anymore."
15. "Stopped looking for happiness in other people. Americans have a tendency toward codependency and enabling, so I educated myself to stop that behavior."
16. "Transitioning. I'm definitely happier, more confident, and more comfortable in my body most days. I feel like I form better relationships with people and myself."
17. "Spending time outside. I know it sounds trivial and it’s what a lot of people who aren’t depressed or mentally ill tell us to do all of the time, but seriously, it helps. It’s not some miracle cure or anything, but a 10-minute walk in the afternoon, especially if it’s sunny, just feels nice."
18. "Acknowledge that my anger is valid."
19. "Divorce. Getting out of an emotionally unhealthy relationship was the single best thing I could have ever done."
20. "Being able to recognize that your emotions don't necessarily reflect reality. You can let them wash over you, feel them, but they're not real. Being able to acknowledge your emotions but not have them control you is powerful."
21. "Try not to get emotionally invested in other people's problems when it's clear they don't want help or to change."
22. "After six years, I switched from being a contractor and went back to being an employee as my main income (I still work as a contractor on the side). With that, I also stopped going above and beyond for work. Once my hours are done for the day, so am I. No email is important after 5 p.m."
If you're a woman, what was the absolute best thing you have ever done for your mental health? Tell us what it is in the comments below.
Note: Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.