#52SmallThings: A Weekly Self-Care Challenge

Change happens, whether we want it to or not. When living with chronic physical and mental health conditions, change becomes a familiar friend or enemy, depending on the day.

Do you agree with the statement that everything happens for a reason? Or do you believe that things just happen with no greater purpose? What’s led you to your belief?

#52SmallThings #MentalHealth #Selfcare #CheckInWithMe

While change can be hard, it can also be necessary. Maybe you recently switched doctors after dealing with awful treatment at a medical practice for years. Or maybe you moved to be closer to people and places that are better for your mental health. Just because the change needed to happen, it doesn’t make the process any easier.

What’s a challenging but necessary change you recently made? If you haven’t made the change yet, what change are you working toward?

We’re rooting for you, Mighties. ❤️

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Parenting #Autism #RareDisease #Disability

Change is something we all have to deal with at some point or another. While it’s a fact that everyone faces change, how we respond to change varies greatly. Does change excite you or make you feel happy? Or does the idea of change increase your anxiety or fill you with dread?

However change makes you feel, leave a comment to kick off this week of #52SmallThings .

#MentalHealth #CheckInWithMe #Anxiety #Depression #Selfcare #ChronicIllness #Autism #Parenting #Disability #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder

It’s hard work to acknowledge and put in place the boundaries you need to be your best and healthiest self. And once you identify and establish your boundaries, it takes even more work to enforce them. This enforcement can be especially challenging when you’re put in situations with people who have disrespected your boundaries in the past, don’t care about other people’s boundaries, or are the reason you’ve created new guardrails in the first place.

Having boundaries doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the traditions you share with your family or friends, however. As we head into the start of the holiday season, let’s brainstorm ways we can participate in our treasured traditions while also maintaining the boundaries we’ve worked so hard to establish.

Maybe you can help someone or learn something along the way!

#52SmallThings #Selfcare #CheckInWithMe #CPTSD #PTSD #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #BipolarDisorder #Autism

Yesterday we talked about our favorite non-holiday traditions that we practice (we loved your answers!). Today is all about traditions we’d like to start but haven’t yet for whatever reason. Whether it’s related to the holiday season or not, what are some traditions you want to begin?

To kick things off, Mighty staffer Skye shared that she wants to build in more time for reflection during the holidays. This could be through journaling, meditation, painting, or any other form of expression that allows space for mindfulness. She’s going to start by doing some writing on Thanksgiving morning and taking the time to craft fun coffee beverages for her family members in the quiet before the parade and other festivities begin.

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #DistractMe #MentalHealth #Selfcare #CheerMeOn

With the holiday season drawing near, let’s take some time to reflect on our favorite non-holiday traditions.

Here’s what a couple of Mighty staffers had to say:

🍁 “When the leaves start to change colors, I have one pumpkin beverage. That’s it, just the one! (Apologies to all of the PSL devotees out there.)”

📰 “Every Sunday morning I make a nice espresso-based beverage, put my feet up, and work on the New York Times crossword puzzle.”

What are your favorite traditions outside of the holidays? These can be traditions from your childhood or something you made up this morning. What sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings does your tradition involve?

#52SmallThings #DistractMe #Selfcare #CheckInWithMe #CheerMeOn #MentalHealth

As we close out this week on connection, we thought it would be fun to share our favorite ways to connect with others. Maybe you’re really into snail mail or love scheduling Zoom game nights with your friends; or perhaps you love to catch a film or cook a meal with your partner, sibling, or coworkers.

However you like connecting with others, let us know in the comments below!

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An important connection that a lot of us are familiar with here is the one we share with our health care providers. Do you feel like you have a strong connection with your medical team? Or do you think that connection could use a little work? Maybe you and your doctor could benefit from a better communication style or a different frequency in visits.

If you’ve formed a strong connection with your health care providers (go you!), we’d love for you to share your advice in the comments below! If you’re working on forming a stronger connection, share what you think would help strengthen it instead.

#52SmallThings #Relationships #MentalHealth #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Disability #RareDisease

Our connections with others may come and go, whether it’s a purposeful separation or a relationship that just dissolved over time. In some cases, it can be a good thing that a connection is broken, but in others the loss can be full of regret and grief.

What connection do you regret losing? Have you tried to regain that connection? Would it be beneficial to do so?

#52SmallThings #Selfcare #CheckInWithMe #Relationships #MentalHealth #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Depression

Our external environment largely influences how we connect to ourselves. Are you a morning person who relishes in the quiet reflection time before the sun rises? Do you have a favorite place you go to to ground yourself when times get tough? Or are you able to surround yourself with people who allow you to be your most authentic self?

Don’t worry if you haven’t found your favorite environment or company for introspection, this community is always here when you need it.

#52SmallThings #Selfcare #MentalHealth #CheckInWithMe #Relationships