The 5 Fundamentals of Mental Health I Turn to When I Feel Myself Slipping

I have been on a journey of healing from depression and anxiety for almost my entire life, and especially for the last 10 years. It can be exhausting working so hard at something day in and day out. What I have learned is I have a chronic illness, and as much as I pray for complete healing, the reality is it has not happened yet. I may never be completely rid of my depression and anxiety, so I need to do the work to keep it as minimal as possible. Over the last five years, I have learned a lot about how to handle my mental state and how to pull myself out of the darkness when it overtakes me. As with many things in life, there are basic fundamental behaviors that can set you up for success in your endeavors — and that is also true for good mental health. Below are five fundamentals I try to incorporate into my life when I feel myself slipping:

1. Connecting with my higher power.

A key to my recovery and the strength I have called on to get me through my darkest days has come from connecting with God. I have a very deep faith and I am open-minded and respectful of others who have different religious or spiritual backgrounds. However, I feel very strongly that a belief in something greater than yourself that you can call on to give you strength is very important in overcoming depression and/or anxiety.

2. Putting my mental health at the top of my priority list.

It is easy to let good habits slip away once you feel you have achieved your goal, but if you stop those good habits, their benefits will likely stop as well. When you feel yourself falling back into a depression or an anxious state, reprioritize some things in your life and put mental health at the top of the list.

3. Getting outside.

Going out into nature is a great way to calm the mind and reconnect to the present moment. When I go for a walk by the river or watch a sunset in the distance, I immediately feel better. There is something so calming about being able to see, hear and smell nature.

4. Connecting with someone face-to-face.

We live in a generation where so much of our communication is now through phone calls, text messages and emails. However, there is power in sitting with a friend or family member in person and talking to them about what you are dealing with. A hug from a good friend can go a long way!

5. Checking in with my doctor.

After you have exhausted all efforts to fix your depression and anxiety and you still do not see any relief, it might be time to see a psychiatrist. In some cases, no matter how many behaviors you modify, you are not going to see results unless you get on the correct medication.

Keep in mind, for many people, managing mental health is an ongoing process. I know it can be frustrating if after doing well for a long period of time, you fall back into depression or anxiety. But if that happens, get back to the basics and back to feeling better!