Mental health for Women: Proactive self-care approach

Our mental health as women is constantly challenged and under pressure, more so because of how society continues to view, respond and expect from us.

We continue to be treated as objects, second class citizens and unequal beings. As a result of this, being a woman feels like a constant struggle against a society that violates, devalues, undermines and silences us. This places a lot of strain on our mental health and makes us more prone to trauma, stress, anxiety and depression. It therefore crucial for us to prioritize our mental wellbeing, in the face of our continued daily struggle against a society that devalues us:

1. Express yourself

Learn to express your feelings in ways that are healthy and comfortable for you. Expression of feelings doesn’t always have to be verbal, you can write or paint depending on what works for you. Also strive to have a nonjudgmental confidant.

2. Have a selfish day

This is where everything is by you, for you and about you. Spend time thinking positive things about you, do positive things for you and nurture positive emotions through doing things that make you laugh, feel relaxed, hopeful and encouraged.

3. Set your own standards

Whose standards are you following? I am asking in terms of beauty and how to be as a person. Following society’s standards for a woman is often exhausting, as these standards are mostly unrealistic and unfair, with a harsh judgment should we be deemed not to be following these. So woman you are safe in your self-defined standards!

4. Become a deliberate reader/viewer

Read books, articles and view videos that nurture your soul, that encourage you and build on the standards you have set for yourself.

5. Validate your humanity

Give yourself permission to feel and express emotions. Embrace your mistakes, weaknesses and failures as they are a confirmation of your humanness.

#thestrugglecontinues

#womenmentalhealth

#authenticgenuineself

#womensmonth

Comments

The impact of Stigma on people

Stigma is when we blame, judge, prejudice and discriminate people because of characteristics that they have or situations that they are going through. People are often stigmatised for situations that they already find challenging to deal with and sometimes it is situations they cannot change or have temporarily lost control over (i.e. mental health diagnosis like depression, diagnosis of HIV and people living with disabilities). So when we stigmatise people we place an extra burden on their already difficult journey. The following points highlight the impact of stigma on people. 1. Impact on mental health Stigma results in feelings of isolation, rejection and guilt for people and it can contribute to the development or worsening of mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. 2. Obstacle in help-seeking When we stigmatise people, it becomes more challenging for them to openly seek help because they fear judgement. As a result they either do not seek help at all or i...

Part 2 of Stress Management: Beyond Self-Awareness

When you are aware of how stress affects your thoughts, emotions and behaviors then you are better positioned to manage it. Stress management is also a journey where you learn to manage your life through self-training. In the process be patient with yourself. Below are a few points to consider as you learn to manage your stress: 1. Thought management: We are all wired to think, therefore thinking is a very normal and an important process in our brains. However a challenge happens when we overthink, over-interpret, generalize and personalize situations. This tendency can negatively affect our emotions and behaviors and it can increase our stress levels. Therefore learning to discern and manage our thoughts is important in stress management. Overthinking can be resolved by distracting yourself through engaging in healthy behaviors i.e. writing down your thoughts for a few minutes and closing the diary and engaging in something else, with plans to go back to the diary and writing at ...

On adjusting to working from home during the lockdown

The lockdown period during COVID-19 came with an unexpected and unplanned working from home set-up for some of us. Although this transition was not a planned event, it is possible to manage it well, through implementing the following: Structure It helps to keep a diary, set weekly and daily work goals that are aligned to your work responsibilities. Time and boundaries Allocate time for work activities, breaks and knock off time and strive to keep to your allocated time. Separate time for home activities from work activities, avoid doing home chores during "work time" and vice versa. Time-off from work should be strictly adhered to. Physical Space In your house have a corner or space on your table where you strive to create a work-like set-up that you work from. If you have an office strive to work from the office everyday. Negotiating with family members Many of us share our spaces with family members who also work or study from ...

Dr Sibu Qhogwana

Search This Blog