How To Take Care of Yourself Mentally

Share
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

We all know that feeling of being stressed and exhausted from the chaos of our daily lives. The hustle and bustle of work, parenting, school, and relationships are all typical things that can make us feel overwhelmed and a bit on edge. Honestly, though, you never truly know what someone may be struggling with beyond these common life challenges. A large portion of our society deals with bouts of clinical depression or anxiety. For those of us dealing with some kind of chronic disease like Celiac, in addition to the normal stressors, it can feel especially overwhelming to manage it all. So, what are some practical things we can do that will keep us pushing towards that peace and well-being we all crave? 

Well, let’s dive right into it! First things first. When it comes to processing through and navigating the emotions of having a chronic condition, it’s important to remember that there are different stages of grieving, and they can come at different times for everyone. The initial diagnosis alone sinks in at different time periods for each person. Beyond that, a large portion of us share the commonality of losing many of the things that we took for granted previously. So, walking through grief is something we all have to do. There can be sad feelings related to losing some of your favorite foods. Some lose out on certain occasions with their friends they once enjoyed. Honestly, it can feel like you’re even losing a sense of being a “normal” person that was so present and now just feels evasive. There are real losses that come with finding out you have a chronic condition and learning how to live with it, and it’s important to remind ourselves how valid those feelings are. But there is also resilience that grows in the process. Many people discover new foods, new communities, and even a new sense of strength in speaking up for themselves. Those silver linings can make the journey not just about loss, but also about growth.

One of the things that consistently seems to be present in people who seem to move through those feelings instead of staying stuck in them is that they talk about it. They share with others the feelings and experiences that they are having and give others the space to validate those real feelings. This can help us not feel crazy and move through the pain. Bottling negative feelings inside can lead to different negative outcomes for different people; it can look like explosions of anger, depression, anxiety, insecurity, paranoia, and more. Not that you won’t necessarily have those feelings if you choose to be vulnerable with others, but your chances of moving through life and having a more positive outlook increase. 

 

Friends are a great way for many people to deal with these feelings of loss and grief. But let’s be real – for adults who work full-time, keeping in touch with family or close friends can be challenging. It can also be difficult to discuss things with close people in your life who don’t understand. So, for some people, finding a support group with those who deal with the same thing can be most helpful. For many, in addition to friends and groups, we need to find a great therapist to provide us with a consistent and recurring check-in for care, encouragement, and guidance. It’s important to remember that we both need to be cared for and also need to care for others. Serving other people through supporting them can actually help strengthen your mental health. We don’t need to ignore our own needs, but we also don’t need to stay solely focused on them. Loving others actually fills our cups too. 

Another crucial factor that greatly affects our mental health is listening to our bodies. If you grew up in a generation, family, workplace, or team where productivity, busyness, and achievement were the things that were most celebrated, though, you may find it difficult to listen to your body and do what is actually needed.  The problem with that is that when we neglect our bodies’ needs for things like rest, it can have a significantly negative impact on our mental health. 

Research suggest the gut and brain are closely connected, with poor gut health often linked to depression and anxiety (Sanada et al., 2020). For people with celiac disease, research shows anxiety and depression are more common, affecting up to 84% and 69% of patients, respectively (Ali et al., 2023). Simple things like sleep, hydration, vitamins, exercise, and sun are all factors that affect your gut health, which then strengthens or weakens your mental health.

All of these are connected to one another, and when we ignore our physical needs for rest and care, we have to realize we are choosing to neglect our mental health. It is okay to rest, take breaks, lie down, say no, take a nap, or sleep in. 

  • So, where can you take a step towards taking better care of yourself mentally?
  • Have you recently connected with someone who can support you?
  • Is there someone that you can reach out to and be a supportive figure for?
  • What is your body needing right now?
  • Where have you possibly neglected your physical needs?

As you reflect on ways you can grow, remember to be kind to yourself. You’re navigating a private battle that affects your life every single day. You have to think through things that others don’t, and it can be very exhausting. Remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can, and every step you take, from resting when you need it to reaching out for support, is a victory. And remember, you are not alone. At GIG, we believe caring for your mental well-being is just as important as eating gluten-free safely. You’re part of a community that understands.