This is written for how I’m spending my mental health holiday, but I’d love to hear how others take theirs.
As for myself, I’ve been forced into a mental health holiday by the side effects of lithium and klonopin hitting me at the same time. The result is immense fatigue that leads me to sleeping for several hours every afternoon. Along with the minor meltdown yesterday, I’ve decided to take a early holiday before the stress of the holidays. And so I thought I’d outline what I do for my mental health.
First of which is reflection. I try to spend some time reflecting on things. I often do it with blog posts that never get published. I just put down in writing what is going on in my life and try to straighten them out. I have to be prepared for the real world when I get back in it. So I need some degree of reflection to work out a game plan. It doesn’t take much to reflect on things happening in life. There’s no need to chant Om and contemplate the greater mysteries of the world. Usually writing it out and erasing and rewriting my thoughts on matters is enough.
Second is escapism. I often read comic books, phillip k dick, watch some tv. I’ve found that a little bit of escapism is really important to my over all health. I’d credit it with my maintaining my composure for so long. I often day dream and these different areas provide a small release valve for all the tension that builds. It’s indulgent, but that’s what a mental health day is, an indulgence because my mind is just not up to par with what it ideally should be.
Third is realism, where I do get something done that realistically should be done. I try to even out the time spent on indulgences and real work. It’s also important for my own mood to do something that I can look at and be proud of to some extent.
Finally, I exercise, even when watching TV. If I’m not sleeping, I try to maintain some level of activity. Whether it’s weights, a walk, or even resistance bands, I try to do something ever hour or two to get my heart rate up. Exercise is good for my mood and I often feel better about my day if I can look in the mirror and see slightly larger biceps (Oh yes, I am vain).
So that’s how I’m spending the next week or so, with a little escapism and a little realism, and a lot of exercise. This is because I realized while writing this morning that I haven’t really had a vacation for the past few years, and I really haven’t had a vacation for the past year. It’s all been finishing classes, depression, medical malfunctions, the list keeps going if you add in dealing with the co op and surgery. It’s really just been one stream of different health matters that’s prevented me from really relaxing. And now I’m really going to take an early holiday and finally relax until the lithium gets a foothold.
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This is written for how I’m spending my mental health holiday, but I’d love to hear how others take theirs.
As for myself, I’ve been forced into a mental health holiday by the side effects of lithium and klonopin hitting me at the same time. The result is immense fatigue that leads me to sleeping for several hours every afternoon. Along with the minor meltdown yesterday, I’ve decided to take a early holiday before the stress of the holidays. And so I thought I’d outline what I do for my mental health.
First of which is reflection. I try to spend some time reflecting on things. I often do it with blog posts that never get published. I just put down in writing what is going on in my life and try to straighten them out. I have to be prepared for the real world when I get back in it. So I need some degree of reflection to work out a game plan. It doesn’t take much to reflect on things happening in life. There’s no need to chant Om and contemplate the greater mysteries of the world. Usually writing it out and erasing and rewriting my thoughts on matters is enough.
Second is escapism. I often read comic books, phillip k dick, watch some tv. I’ve found that a little bit of escapism is really important to my over all health. I’d credit it with my maintaining my composure for so long. I often day dream and these different areas provide a small release valve for all the tension that builds. It’s indulgent, but that’s what a mental health day is, an indulgence because my mind is just not up to par with what it ideally should be.
Third is realism, where I do get something done that realistically should be done. I try to even out the time spent on indulgences and real work. It’s also important for my own mood to do something that I can look at and be proud of to some extent.
Finally, I exercise, even when watching TV. If I’m not sleeping, I try to maintain some level of activity. Whether it’s weights, a walk, or even resistance bands, I try to do something ever hour or two to get my heart rate up. Exercise is good for my mood and I often feel better about my day if I can look in the mirror and see slightly larger biceps (Oh yes, I am vain).
So that’s how I’m spending the next week or so, with a little escapism and a little realism, and a lot of exercise. This is because I realized while writing this morning that I haven’t really had a vacation for the past few years, and I really haven’t had a vacation for the past year. It’s all been finishing classes, depression, medical malfunctions, the list keeps going if you add in dealing with the co op and surgery. It’s really just been one stream of different health matters that’s prevented me from really relaxing. And now I’m really going to take an early holiday and finally relax until the lithium gets a foothold.