Not too long ago, we published a blog post about the ways in which medication and therapy can work together to help you improve your mental health. An excerpt:
Often, it seems like most everything in life is about making a choice between one thing and another…You can do either of two things, but you can’t do both.
But not all choices are like that. Some things that might seem like either/or propositions are actually both/and propositions instead. Take treatment for mental health disorders, for example. You could take prescription medications to help manage your depression or anxiety or other disorder. You could pursue talk therapy to help manage any given mental health issue.
Your initial reaction might be to think you have to choose between the two. But you don’t. In fact, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that medication and therapy work most effectively when they work in tandem. So, sure, you could choose one or the other as your preferred method for managing your mental health disorder. But it would be so much better to choose both.
We think of those two things—medication and therapy—as foundational parts of any plan to improve your mental well-being. But they are not the only things you can do to improve your mental health.
We Would Answer in the Affirmative if Asked About Affirmations
Take, for example, affirmations. Getting into the habit of building yourself up with positive ideas and encouragement can be a powerful way to boost your mental health. Affirmations give you the opportunity to do just that.
What is an affirmation? An affirmation is a short statement that you can say to yourself that reminds you of an important, uplifting idea.
Here are ten affirmation examples related to mental health:
- I see the good in myself.
- I appreciate the goodness in my life.
- I find more and more to be grateful for.
- I am proud of myself for making it so far.
- I am resilient.
- I value myself.
- I know that problems are temporary.
- I accept myself for who I am.
- I am building my future.
- I only compare myself to myself.
Those examples are taken from a much longer list you can find here. This list and others like it can give you ideas for developing your own affirmations. While you are reading affirmations, you will likely discover some that seem hooky or to “woo-woo” for you. That is perfectly fine. Affirmations are only effective if they really resonate with you personally. Over time you will find or create your own set of affirmations that can help you stay positive and overcome challenges.
All About Your Inner Coach or Critic or Commentator
Affirmations can be a powerful tool because they can help you change the overall tone of the messages you receive from your inner voice. You know the one. The voice that reminds you of every mistake you have ever made. The voice that warns you not to get your hopes up because good things never happen to you. The voice that can undermine your confidence and your self-esteem at a moment’s notice.
Each of us has a voice like that: an inner coach who thinks we don’t have talent or the drive to get anything done; an inner critic who thinks we can’t do anything right; an inner commentator who replays every misstep over and over and analyzes each one from every possible angle.
But the thing about that voice is that it is…well…you. It is not some third party who has made it their job to make you miserable. You are talking to yourself about yourself in ways that make you feel bad about yourself. And that’s hardly good for your mental health, right?
So affirmations give you the opportunity to change the tone of that internal conversation that is pretty much always going on. It might feel awkward to repeat positive statements like those above when you first give it a go. Over time, however, calling to mind an affirmation will be a positive habit that has real benefits—including shifting your outlook in a more optimistic and hopeful direction. You might even find yourself developing a growth mindset that gets you excited about the future.
Take Note of This Affirming Message: Peak Behavioral Health Can Help
If you are struggling with a mental health disorder, Peak Behavioral Health in New Mexico can help you work toward improving your mental well-being and maintaining those improvements over time. We offer personalized mental health treatment addressing a range of disorders including depression, anxiety, trauma-centered issues, and more. The first step toward reclaiming your life and its joys and opportunities is to take care of your mental health.”
