Stress. Anxiety. Depression.
I’m not ashamed to say that I battled anxiety and depression
for years and was medicated at one point for it. But at the time, I was. I went to the doctor almost in secret (my
husband knew, but no one else). I wouldn’t
go to counseling- then I’d have to talk about it. I took a pill and continued trying to go on
with life like nothing was wrong. Grad
school, motherhood, wife duties, work in the hospital, running the house,
getting food on the table. Medication
helped, of course, but over the years I have found other things help much
more.
First- talking. Back
to being vulnerable. I’m not the first
mom who has lost her mind because of a sock on the floor on the wrong day and
screamed at my child like a raging lunatic. I’m not the first wife who imagined her
husband being in an awful car accident to the details of planning what would
happen after if it all happened today. I’m
not the first person who wished they could just sleep for 2 weeks and wake up
and everything be “normal.” For sure
not the only one who has relied too much on chocolate or a few glasses of wine
for a pick me up when things are hard. Talk to your friends- they are there too! You can help encourage each other to pick healthier
ways and to forgive ourselves for the weak moments!
Second- take care of yourself. Physically.
Exercise releases endorphins, and as we know from our friend Elle Woods,
happy people won’t kill their husbands.
It gives you an outlet for stress and gives you energy- much needed
energy! Eating healthy also helps a
lot. Sugar/carbs is what we reach for in
our various comfort foods but increases dysbiosis in our gut which can increase
anxiety/depression problems!
Third- take care of your gut! Our gut health, as I discussed about eating
healthy, has a LOT to do with how we feel.
Dysbiosis in our gut is the imbalance of good and bad bacteria in our digestive
system that can lead to several common symptoms including moodiness, anxiety, bloating,
bad breath, excess gas and bathroom problems.
Probiotics and prebiotics can help re-balance this system. I personally use Plexus products to do this as
they have scientifically studied ingredients and high-quality control measures.
Fourth- take care of your mind. Positive thinking, meditation, music therapy,
counseling- all of these are possible tools to help your brain. Anxiety or depression
aren’t as clear cut as, “go listen to music, it will help”, but it’s one of
many tools to help! There are certain
songs I can’t help but dance or sing along to, no matter what mood I was in
before! Make a playlist and listen when
you need some mental health time! Find
what works for you and make it part of your routine!
It’s all about hormone balance, so taking care of our guts
and our physical balance can help naturally balance those hormones that
determine if we feel good or bad.
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Blessings in Health and Happiness!
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