I’m writing this at 3:55 a.m, after having a mental breakdown, listening to Coldplay in total darkness.
My body hurts, my back and neck are suffering the tension and anxiety I’ve been experiencing these past days; my mood is cloudy but happy but anxious but angry… I don’t know how it is, to be honest.
I’ve been living in a continuous roller coaster these days and I’m getting really tired (and this is just the beginning).
I don’t have plans to do anymore: I practiced Netflix and Chill, I read, I wrote, I checked my social media; I even thought about going shopping groceries or walking my dog but I can’t due to my health condition!
As someone who has been managing anxiety attacks since a very young age I tried to overcome this situation as I always do with others: making a to-do list.
It can sound stupid, maybe you think it’s not gonna work: “why are you complaining, if you have everything at home and you can do anything?“; mental health is the key in moments like this, and to have a strong one is as important as having a strong physical health.
Also, watching TV and scrolling through my Instagram feed it’s not what I could call “self care”.
Social media it’s a really great way of communicating and getting informed about the world that surround us… If we use it properly, of course (something that we don’t actually do).
There’s a lot of studies that proves this statement: the quality of your mental health decays in order of the high expectations and false image we think we’re obligated to show; we need to be perfect, even when we can’t.
That’s why I thought it was a good idea to share some to-do things that, this time, would benefit your inner peace and your state of mind.
1. Breathe fresh air: It’s true we can’t go outside, we can’t hang out with friends like we normally do but we can always open a window and breathe, let the bad vibes go with the wind and the sun bath our skin, in complete silence.
2. Paint, no matter what it is: You don’t need to be Picasso or Van Gogh, it doesn’t matter if your drawings are doodles or forms, if they don’t have any sense; this is a very important and helpful activities for people that, for example, bite their nails. Or their pens. Or overthink too much. Let the mind empty and just paint, relax.
3. Listen to music: Listening to your favorite song, discovering new genres, singing some lyrics… Music has a very healing power, close your eyes and lay down in your bed. Let the music dance around you and the time pass, don’t hurry, everything would be right where you left it.
4. Pet your dog/cat: Animals can bring you a therapeutic experience just petting them. Spend time with your dog or cat, focus on touching their little heads and on trying to make them fall sleep and relax; it would have the same effect on you.
5. Disconnect from social media but not from society: Forget about Instagram, forget about Twitter or Facebook. Forget about your family posting bad jokes or your acquaintances posting photos and stories about how great they’re quarantine it’s being. Focus on your own happiness and peace, chat with your really friends through videocalls or calls. Enjoy this time to reconnect with the real world and your significant ones.
6. Express your feelings: If you’re getting anxious, sad or depressed talk to someone. Cry if you need to, scream or laugh. We’re living difficult times, don’t make it more difficult to yourself.
See this as an experience for knowing yourself better, for taking care of you and focusing on what you want to do and who you want to be. Focus on not watching or doing anything that could exasperate you, try to keep your mind in peace and positive. Everything will pass, it’s just matter of time. Stay strong and safe!