Currently working on a blogging challenge at 31 Days to a Better Blog and my task for today was to write a blog post that was a list. Considering what my topic of late has been, I thought I would post my list I am compiling to help me move beyond my current state. So, here goes:
10 Steps to Avoid Mental Breakdown
1. one must realize they are headed in that direction and admit it
2. one must then make a declaration to oneself that they refuse to continue in that direction
3. one must determine whether one needs to be under the care of a healthcare provider. Medication, therapy and even medical leave maybe helpful or necessary in fighting off the impending breakdown.
4. one must then find a new path to go down, one of loving and taking care of oneself to avoid said breakdown or potential future breakdowns
5. one must begin eating 3 healthy meals a day, including quality proteins, whole grains and fruits/vegetables. one must allow oneself small indulgences of sweets and treats. now is not the time to beat oneself up about one’s weight
6. one must drink at minimum 8-10 glasses of water daily. now would be a good time to avoid those plastic water bottles and go buy a cute metal refillable bottle and keep it by one’s side at all times.
7. one must get plenty of rest, 8+ hours per night, if one cannot sleep, one needs to consider over the counter aids or seek help from one’s physician
8. one must learn to do only the necessary responsibilities for a time. say No to all other responsibilities and opportunities that come one’s way. it may be, that depending on the severity of one’s mental state, one may need to back away from even responsibilities of high importance, such as one’s employment, or being the primary childcare provider, or the room mother or the PTA president. said person is the only one who can determine what must be released to move beyond impending breakdown
9. one must have some sort of physical exercise. this is not the time for an intense fat-burning 5 days a week workout, this is a time for one to take a walk around the block or by a lake or river, or on a nice winding trail at a park
10. one must find strength in their God, through prayer and time alone with him. journaling is also a good healing tool one could utilize.
The last thing I leave you with is this: it didn’t take one a week or two to get to this point in their life, it will definitely take longer than that to pull out and move beyond it. Be sure to give said person lots of love and reassurance, whether said person is YOU or someone you love. Click here for a post with an awesome music video and lyrics that are so pertinent!
My goal is to help as many women as possible with these issues we all deal with! Be sure to subscribe via email or RSS so you don’t miss any posts! If you know of someone who would benefit from the info in this post and in my blog, please click here to share!
divine…..
W.O.W= Worship of work
Not twice this day, Inch time foot gem , This day will not come again, Each minute is worth a priceless gem. Zen master ” TAKUN ”
happiness …… breath to breath , happiness……. thread to bread , happiness ……. eat to sleep , happiness ……………that occupies the being , a to z of ”creative enlightenment”………….mile to smile…………
distance……… has no meaning , meaning is , how you cover it…. discover smile to cover mile…..…….to milestone eternal…………… happy journey……………………. bless you……………………
thanks for this…it reminds me I need spiritual time, healthy eating and exercise which I haven’t done in an embarrassingly long long while.
Always remember to take time out in your day for you, weather it be a half an hour sit down in the garden or curled up on the sofa indoors with your favorite book.
Great ideas on this list and a great read too.
Very helpful! The one I need to work on is getting more sleep. I am so bad about it! I can’t help it because when our girls are asleep, that is my time to blog hop. The only reason I am on here now is because my niece is over and they are way too content without me!
Stopping by from the challenge!
This one likes to go sit in her closet. That’s usually the first indication that I’ve gone way over the edge! I come out (eventually) if I have to. heh
Well done on your list post. I’m here from the 31DBB challenge.
The closet would be a good place, if I could fit! My hubby knows if he finds me in bed or with a box of cookies, he better tread lightly!
Thanks for coming by!
Hi, Bernice, I’m here via the 31DBBB challenge to give you some bloggy love! I like your list a lot. My blog is fairly new, but I have decided to dedicate it to my quest to find a little sanity in this insane world by celebrating life’s simple pleasures. So your post really speaks to finding sanity…and maintaining it. Best wishes in your quest for mental balance! I know we all need it.
Thnks Mandy, the balance is definitely a challenge! I’ll drop by for a visit soon!
These are very great tips! I started journaling about 2-3 months ago and I have found it to be a great way to deal with one’s own issues! Keep up the great work!
You know, I used to journal quite a bit, I have half full notebooks tucked away all over my house. It is very soothing and I need to take it back it, if I can find the time, lol!
Good luck with your task. I like this issue cause it help everyone. On the list especially no 5, 7 and 9 is the most hardest to achieve for me. 8+ hours to sleep sure unachievable due to my working time. The only thing that help me out from stress nowadays would be reading novels or playing my PSP. That sure made me forget the tense.
Hmm! Food for thought here,certainly. As you have stated, it depends how far one is down the road to mental breakdown, but I would like to highlight that (for me) the use of the word ‘must’ added a dimension of stress and pressure and allowed me to beat myself up when I didn’t do all the good things I had to do! I was deeply unwell at this stage, however.
I can only speak for myself, but in the acute stages of the breakdown there was no ‘must’ or ‘should’ etc etc. There was just the raw reality of living life as it came. One day, or hour at a time. I was seeing a counsellor which really helped and she helped me deal with the ‘crisis management’ stage of my breakdown. At this point,you just ‘are’…..awake and watching dvd’s at three in the morning, playing computer games incessantly to keep from thinking/feeling etc…..whatever it took for me to survive at this stage was fine, ok and allowable-because it WAS about surviving.
As counter-intuitive as it may sound, for me that was the first step towards loving and looking after myself.
I kmow I find myself cringing and pulling inward if someone, especially hubby,family, boss or coworkers, uses the word “need”in a sentence. IE: you need to get the insurance bill paid, you need to get that repoert submitted, honey you need to call and take of that “situation”. Every NEED they place on me feels heavier and heavier…
Hey, This was something I really needed to read at this point of my life…I am a 24 yr old student and currently doing internship…I have been stressing a lot about work but when I come home at 6 , I am so dead I cant do any work, I have tried but failed and the only outcome is tht I have lost sleep, felt sleepy at work and had terrible headaches and guilt pangs…sometimes I get so much of performance anxiety…..
Its 9 pm now and today I am going to bed now and I feel happy that I am finally going to bed on time….I woke up late and reached late for work today so the guilt came from that….
But..yeah….really helped….thanks a lot…good night..
It took me years to realize if I didn’t take care of me first I would be of no value to anyone else. It’s a good lesson to learn! Good list!
[…] one of my posts last week, 10 steps to avoid a mental breakdown I talked about the necessary steps to avoid a breakdown, burnout, or a brick wall! So, let me […]
Maintaining a healthy mental attitude is so crucial in today’s world. I can’t state it enough… There ares so many wounded, angry, hurting souls out there that we all need to take a deep breath and re-direct our energy.
Your tips are excellent and I pray we all find a way to get there… There is much that we can accomplish even with little.
From 31DBBB favorite post
Thank you,
Elizabeth
Great list. I have found that sometimes it helps to have a list when I feel myself going down a path that I don’t want to be taking. It is hard to get yourself moving sometimes and I really liked the list – going to print it and use it as motivation!
thanks,
Jennifer
Awesome list! I think we often forget during these times of our lives to take care of ourselves with the basics…eat right, sleep, exercise, drink water. Our bodies need these things most when we are under stress. Thanks for putting this wonderful list together as a reminder 🙂 I love your blog!
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