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Chrissy Teigen Opens Up About the 'Bad' Choices She Made When Depressed

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When you’re struggling with your mental health, your physical health can take a hit as well. Beyond the physical symptoms that can accompany conditions like anxiety and depression, sometimes living with a mental illness can make us pick coping strategies that go against our best interests.

Chrissy Teigen told Women’s Health that she “wasn’t being good to [her] body” after the birth of her first child, Luna. In March 2017, Teigen wrote about her experience with postpartum depression. Teigen said she was drinking too much, which led to her not eating enough because she was full from alcohol.

After starting an antidepressant and going on a wellness retreat with her husband, John Legend, Teigan came to a realization about her mental health. “It’s like, what could be more important than mental health? What’s more important than being proud of yourself and doing the best you can for your body,” she said.

It can be hard to cope with depression, anxiety and other mental health struggles. Like how Teigan turned to alcohol, it’s not uncommon to pick coping mechanisms that are unhealthy.

Whatever you do or have done to cope, there’s no shame in trying to get a handle on your mental health struggles. For those going through a difficult period, there are non-harmful strategies you can use if you feel like what you’re doing now may harm your body or mind in the long run.

Here are a few coping skills recommended by mental health professionals you might want to check out:

  1. If you feel as though you’re constantly trying to avoid how you feel, a therapist can help you find a way to address your thoughts and emotions in a safe space. Avoidance won’t help the issue, even if it gives you relief in the moment.
  2. If you struggle with self-harm, you can hold a piece of ice in the crook of your arm instead.
  3. Sometimes changing our thoughts and emotions becomes easier if we change our physical environment. If you’re at home, try going for a walk or taking a drive.
  4. If you feel like you need to be grounded, pay attention to your senses and name five things you see, four things you can touch, three things you hear, two things you smell and one thing you taste.
  5. Find someone to hang out with. You don’t even need to tell them you’re struggling if you don’t want to, just spend time together.
  6. Take a shower.
  7. Watch your favorite TV show or movie.
  8. Find a guided meditation program online that focuses on breathing or something simple.

While living with a mental illness can be challenging, there are lots of safe ways you can take care of yourself. If you feel like you need support immediately, don’t be afraid to contact a hotline or your therapist. Like Teigan was ultimately able to find something that helped her depression, there are options out there for you, too.

Image via Creative Commons/Monica Escalante

Originally published: September 6, 2018
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