Seek professional help, such as seeing a therapist or ‘shrink,’ when dealing with mental health issues like depression. Professional guidance can provide support and strategies for managing conditions, as it did for Dan during his first bout of depression.
Avoid shaming yourself for experiencing anxiety, depression, or other mental health struggles. Self-compassion is a crucial part of dealing with these experiences effectively.
Cultivate mindfulness to identify mental health states (like anxiety or perfectionism) within yourself and, when appropriate, name them to others. Mindfulness allows for self-awareness and communication, which can lead to better management and support.
Prioritize actions that support your self-preservation and mental health, even if they might lead to minor conflicts or require setting boundaries. Neglecting these needs due to fear of conflict can lead to long-term detriment to your well-being.
Approach difficult experiences, like relationship endings, as ’teachable moments’ from which to learn and grow. This mindset allows for personal growth and self-discovery, leading to improvements in self-preservation and mental health.
Pay attention to patterns in your mental health, noting when conditions like depression tend to recur, such as during ‘big transition moments.’ Recognizing these patterns can help you anticipate and potentially prepare for periods of vulnerability.
Recognize the phrase ‘forget it, I’ll just do it myself’ as a sign of dysregulation or being ‘below the line.’ This phrase indicates a ‘glitching’ state of fear or anxiety, signaling a need for self-care or a different approach.
Engage in candid conversations about anxiety and depression. Talking openly normalizes and ‘aerates’ these conditions, making them less overwhelming and allowing for the discovery of practical coping strategies.
When discussing mental health struggles, also share the solutions or strategies you’ve used to manage them. This prevents ‘marinating’ in the problem, avoids potential ‘contagion,’ and provides actionable guidance to others.
Spend time with other people in the same room without phones. This is an extraordinarily powerful way to reduce fear and sadness, supported by an enormous amount of science.
Practice saying ‘yes, thank you’ when help or kindness is offered to you. This helps overcome the difficulty of receiving and not wanting to be a burden, fostering the ability to accept support.
When perfectionism or anxiety kicks in, use mindfulness to recognize and name it, then propose a compromise to others. This manages internal struggles while seeking a middle ground in interactions.
Be direct and transparent about your mental health conditions and the structures you need to be successful, especially in professional settings or with your team. This transparency can lift a huge burden and help create necessary support systems.
Explore medication as a tool for managing mental health conditions. It can be helpful for conditions like panic attacks, as shared by Dan’s personal experience.
Engage in meditation practices, potentially including guided meditations or live sessions. Meditation is a practice found helpful for dealing with anxiety and depression, supporting both mind and body.
Do not hide your struggles or self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. Hiding makes problems bigger, and self-medication can worsen conditions like depression.
Adapt your living environment to better suit your neurotype, such as installing pull-out shelves for deep cabinets if you have ADHD. Making small adjustments can significantly support self-preservation and mental health.
Identify specific environmental triggers or discomforts and remove them from your personal space. Eliminating small irritants can create a more spacious and open feeling, benefiting mental ease.
Customize digital settings, like font preferences, to enhance clarity and ease of use if you have specific neurotype needs. Small adjustments can make daily tasks easier and reduce cognitive load.
Be open to learning from younger generations, particularly regarding work-life balance and self-care. They often have valuable insights into being a ‘human being’ rather than just a worker.
Dedicate the ‘merit’ (goodness cultivated from positive experiences) of your learning and practice to others suffering from mental health issues. This Buddhist practice helps cultivate compassion and extends positive impact.