Emotional Self Care

*Mentions coping methods and help if things are too much*

Emotional health is just as important as physical health but is often overlooked. It is important to care for your mental health and emotional self care is part of this. We can all get a bit down in the dumps with our illness, frustration and anger is common. Some of us also have chronic mental health issues alongside chronic physical illness.

Its also worth noting that a grieving process can follow every new diagnosis, its changing our lives again and again. We can grieve for our old lives and our old abilities. Lets face it its hard to cope with been ill. Even harder to face never getting better.

Some of us manage with the odd breakdown, some of us cope by using Unhealthy coping methods and some of us can not cope at all and their mental health is suffering as a result.

There are healthy ways to minimise the emotional stress been ill causes (and all the other stress too). Taking time out to look after your mental health is always important. It is particularly important during a flare up / relapse / down day or when we are feeling at our worst.

So stop. take a breathe and take some time out. I Journal each night, somehow writing out my thoughts and feelings allows me to process them then let them go. This Is a good option if you like to write and love stationary!! I bought mine from Paperchase for £12. If you struggle to hold a pen to write there is always livejournal, you can opt to keep your entries private. Of course there is always blogging. I started this blog as I wanted to help other people with chronic illness and also have a platform to express my thought and feelings on life.

Meditation can lower stress levels, (it doesn't have to be sitting cross logged humming OMMMMMM, but if that appeals to you go for it). Meditation can just be laying down, closing your eyes and listening to some relaxing music whilst focusing on your breathe. There's some great guided meditation videos on youtube and hypnotherapy videos for various issues. My favourite guided meditation is one for sleep where you visualise floating amongst the stars.

Bubble baths, the more bubbles the better. You get maximum points if your bubble bath has rubber ducks and / or candles. Lavender and chamomile based bath goodies are both relaxing and calming.

Have a long talk with someone you can trust, go spend time with people who make you laugh and forget about your problems. If that's not possible find a pet to cuddle, stroke. Don't have one, find one! (im not condoning animal kidnap). Animals make us smile, comfort us and stroking an animal is relaxing, theyre also great listeners as they never too busy to talk at! You can "borrow" some animals to stroke and talk to by volunteering at animal charities or rescue centres.

Volunteering is also a great way to support your own wellbeing. Giving your time to help other people or animals helps to lift your self esteem and keeps you grounded. Of course, not everyone's health allows them to do this but it's there for those that can. Check out doit.org for a (UK) database of volunteering opportunities.

Go outside. Sometimes just been outside and feeling the sun on your skin is enough to perk you up. Just 5 mins of fresh air, looking at the plants and flowers or weeds (there is beauty in everything if you look hard enough!) And hearing the birds singing is somehow soothing.

It goes without saying, if your mental health takes a turn for the worst and you feel you need help, seek it, there is lots of support out there and lots of other people who are going through the same things. See your GP, join a support group (either online or in person), talk to someone, a friend, family, Samaritans, counsellor. Don't keep it to yourself.

As always thanks for reading and hopefully this will help someone out there. Check back tomorrow for the next post in the series: Social self care.

Laura :)