Self-care is not self-ish, here are some activities that can help
Exercising (e.g., aerobics, yoga)
Engaging in social contact (virtual or in person)
Getting adequate sleep on a regular schedule
Eating healthy
Talking to a trusted friend or family member
Practicing meditation, relaxation, and mindfulness
Activities are a great way for us to distract ourselves from our current emotions until we are better able to cope. When our level of distress is too high, we may not be able to effectively handle a situation and need ways to bring our emotional state down. Some suggestions may seem similar to self-care, but distraction activities serve a different purpose. One person’s self-care activity is another’s distraction technique.
EXAMPLES OF DISTRACTION ACTIVITIES
Call a friend (and don’t talk about what’s causing you distress)
Create something
Describe your surroundings using your five senses
Do a puzzle
Do something kind for someone else
Focus on a single task
Go out to eat
Go to an event
Listen to music or a podcast
Take a hot or cold shower
Try something new
Volunteer
Watch something funny
Watch TV or a movie
A Whole-Person, Strength-Based Approach. SAMHSA envisions wellness not as the absence of disease, illness, and stress, but as:
The presence of a positive purpose in life
Satisfying work and play
Joyful relationships
A healthy body and living environment
Happiness
In accordance with Halbert Dunn's seminal wellness concepts (Dunn, 1961).
WELLNESS IS MULTIFACETED.
The Wellness Initiative identifies eight dimensions of wellness, along with basic needs related to each one. The dimensions influence one another and affect a person's overall health and quality of life.
Feeling overwhelmed? Read this fact sheet to learn whether it’s stress or anxiety, and what you can do to cope.
STRESS: A response to a threat, situation, person, or interaction.
ANXIETY: A reaction to the stress; more long-term, and chronic.
Anxiety is common. Nearly 1 in 3 young adults experiences it.
→ Both anxiety and stress are treatable.
Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as physical distancing, can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety.
Anxiety is different and more serious than stress, which is adaptive and can be protective. Stress before a test or a big game helps our body and mind focus and perform, for example. However, untreated anxiety or persistent stress can be debilitating
Don’t wait for a health care provider to ask about your mental health. Start the conversation. Here are five tips to help prepare and guide you on talking to a health care provider about your mental health and getting the most out of your visit.
