Take a moment to just breathe. Breathe in, breathe out. Close your mouth and inhale through your nose as you count to four. Hold onto that breath as you count to seven, and then exhale through your mouth for the count of eight. How are you feeling? Do you feel like your mental health is strong or do you feel like you’re struggling to cope with life’s daily
stressors? Like our physical health, there are aspects of our mental health we need to understand and manage the best way we can to protect our emotional well-being from future problems.
Below you will find several life areas. Rate the following areas from 1 to 10, 1 being really bad and 10 being magnificent. For any areas you mark less than 10, list what needs to change to make it a 10. Brutal honesty is really important here, as you can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.
- Exercise, physical activity:
- Friendships:
- Romantic relationships:
- Family:
- Self-Care:
- Stress Level:
- Spirituality / Religion:
- Career:
- Emotional health:
- Happiness:
Based on your responses: Why are some scores lower than others? What is working? What isn’t working? Knowing what isn’t working is a big clue on what isn’t for you and what you need to change to improve your overall well-being. If any of these areas stand out to you or you want to work on improving your mental health, I would love to see you at one of our weekly mental health groups.
Starting in September, we will host a series of stress management groups on various topics to help promote mental wellness. These groups will be facilitated by your on-staff licensed mental health professionals, Reion Janeau, LCSW and Lovella Calica, LMSW. They will be held on Sept. 11, 18, 25, & Oct. 2 – 12pm to 1pm. Topics, in order: Worry, Communication, Coping Skills, Relationships. We look forward to seeing you there and helping you create a healthier, balanced lifestyle.