Words have power. They can heal, inspire, and motivate you to be better than you were yesterday. But not all words are created equal. Some are filled with love and encouragement; others are full of hate and negativity. When it comes to improving your mental health and fighting off depression or anxiety, it’s important to use words that uplift yourself and others around you. Here are eight tips for using your words wisely.
Watch the Words You Use
Sometimes the negative words we tell ourselves are simply a recording in our brains of what someone else used to say to us. It’s important to not let these words turn into self-loathing. You can use your words to improve your mental health, but it’s important to be mindful of the way you’re talking to yourself. Words have a lot of power and influence over our emotions, thoughts, and actions. If we aren’t careful with our language, we may end up creating negative self-talk that leads us down a bad path.
Have a Mantra
A mantra is a word or phrase that you repeat to yourself over and over again. It’s not just a silly saying that you say to yourself, it’s something with meaning. The repetition of this word or phrase allows your brain to focus on it, and helps you clear your mind so that you can be present in the moment instead of letting negative thoughts run rampant through your head. The benefits of having a mantra include feeling more peaceful when thinking about who or what needs care at any given time of day and giving yourself something positive to focus on.
Make a Gratitude List
People receiving therapy for depression often get exposed to different ways to focus mental energies that result in better moods. Treatment centers like PulseTMS combine things like magnetic treatments, therapy, and at-home exercises like writing a gratitude list. Focusing your mental energy in this way helps to rewire the brain over time. Writing down things you are thankful for like your job, someone who loves you, and even living in a beautiful city can help you realize that you have many things in life that can bring you joy. This can help pull people out of depression and anxiety if people stay consistent with their therapies.
Journal Your Thoughts
Journaling is another great way to express your thoughts and feelings. You can write about how you’re feeling on any given day, your experiences with mental health and medication, and anything that is causing you stress. Additionally, you can focus on positive things like your goals and aspirations and journal the things you are doing to get them done. You can celebrate your wins and even any challenges you overcome.
Practice Self-Care
A crucial part of maintaining mental wellness is practicing self-care. Self-care can be anything from getting a massage to going for a walk in nature. They are simply the things you do for yourself because you enjoy them. Self-care is particularly important if you’re dealing with depression or anxiety, because these disorders make it difficult for people to practice self-care without being reminded about their mental health issues all the time.
Meditate or Pray
Meditating or praying are both great ways to relax and focus your mind, which can help you deal with stress. It’s also been shown to increase the amount of gray matter in the hippocampus, an area of the brain associated with memory and learning.
Connect With Others
Some of the best ways to improve your mental health are by connecting with others. Talking about what you’re going through can help you feel less alone, and it can also give you a chance to gain perspective on your problems. While you don’t want to use your friends as a dumping ground for your problems, it does help to have people who know what’s going on in your life and can offer a hug or a listening ear when needed.
Do What You Love
It is so simple and yet, so difficult to do. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, but if we are not doing something that makes us happy, we are missing out on an important part of our lives. When we do what we love, our brains release dopamine and serotonin. Doing something you love will make you feel better physically, but it also has many mental benefits as well. It boosts your mood, increases self-confidence, and so much more.
