#52SmallThings: A Weekly Self-Care Challenge

Yesterday we talked about the charities, causes, and nonprofits we are passionate about (you had some great ones!); so today we wanted to talk about volunteer work, as it is one of the best ways we can give back to our communities.

Volunteer work can look many different ways depending on where you live, how much extra time you have, and your overall health. We definitely understand that health conditions and disabilities can often prevent us from volunteering in the ways we want and that totally OK!

What is your experience with volunteering your time?

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

Depending on what we care most about, there are a plethora of ways we can each make a difference in the lives of others.

The charities, causes, and nonprofits we are passionate about can greatly bring awareness (and possibly funds) to those that may need help the most.

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks is passionate about mental health. She volunteered with NAMI-NYC for around seven years and is now a staff member—an experience that has been great for her recovery.

What about you?

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

It’s a new self-care challenge, Mighties, and this week we’re tapping into what you all do best: helping others!

Whether you’re a caregiver, volunteer, cheerleader for an online friend, or a helping hand to a family member, there are many ways we can assist the people around us. Helping others can be extremely rewarding not only for those involved, but our actions and intentional time can make an impact on society too. We are most powerful when we work together, right?

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks loves to share her mental health story as well as be creative with those around her.

How do you like to help?

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

Having a dedicated place you can go to reflect and sort through your thoughts can be super helpful, especially in those moments when you’re learning something new (exciting!) or gaining a different perspective or insight (scary!).

Where do you go when you need time to yourself to pause, regroup, and think?

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

Let’s practice reframing a thought today, Mighty friends!

When you reframe or shift a thought, you’re simply changing your perspective in order to understand something in a new and different way.

Let's try it using these steps with an anxious thought:

1️⃣ Write down one thing your anxiety tells you.

2️⃣ Now, write down the opposite.

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks reframed this thought:

1️⃣ I'm not doing a good enough job.

2️⃣ I'm doing my best and that's more than enough.

Reframe your own thought in the comments below! ⬇️

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

Sometimes the reason we are able to see something more clearly or understand ourselves in a different way is because of something someone else told us in a time of need. So we’re curious, what’s a piece of advice you were given that changed your perspective for the better?

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks says that she’s gotten a lot of great advice from others over the years. The best advice, however, was when her therapist pointed out that she doesn’t have to do things that make her uncomfortable, especially if it’s making her lose sleep.

Her therapist shared that @sparklywartanks can simply create a boundary that protects her mental health instead of always trying to figure out how to navigate that troubling situation.

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

New week, new theme, but same Mightiness, friends!

This week we’re digging into reframing thoughts, which is a common skill taught in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The technique essentially boils down to taking negative thoughts and replacing them with more helpful ones — it’s not a cure-all, but it can be helpful for those of us that get frequently stuck in thought spirals or rumination.

But first, bringing awareness to our behaviors is a solid first step when learning how to reframe and shift our thoughts and mindset. Do you find that you overthink when you feel worried, anxious, or stressed?

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression #Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie