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Disclaimer: Obviously I am not a medical professional. If you are suffering from serious mental health problems you should always consider seeking professional medical help.

I’ve written on the blog before that travelling has actually helped me to understand my mental and physical health a lot more than anything and anyone else. I’ve struggled with various issues since I was a child and despite the fact that I am now in my mid-thirties and I still have flareups I have never been to see a professional. It is still not something I’m comfortable with and so I’ve come to the conclusion that it is possible to actually become your own therapist and help yourself.

Becoming Your Own Therapist

I’ve had a number of issues over the years, all stemming from experiences of my childhood and teenage years that have followed me through into adulthood.

Chronic bullying at various points of my life resulted in social anxiety and bouts of paranoia. A lack of control in certain aspects of my life resulted in disordered eating from a very young age. I am now at a point in my life where I can identify the triggers that effect me most frequently and most of the time I can work out for myself how to acknowledge, accept, and deal with them.

Journaling

Keep a journal – this is something usually suggested by professionals, so if you’re attempting to be your own therapist it might be something you want to consider. However, I’m not saying that you have to write pages and pages every single day. When keeping a journal, keep it simple. Use it as a way of expressing your emotions, your point of view, your thoughts, ambitions and expectations. Don’t just use it when you’re having a bad day – use it when you’re happy, excited and optimistic.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by emotion, write it down. Get it out of your head and on to paper. When you actually take the time to identify your emotions, to process them, to be considerate of yourself you’ll find that it’s actually very freeing and like a weight being lifted.

Walking

We’re always told how important fresh air is to our physical health as well as our mental health. Getting outside is always good, especially if you’re having health issues but going for a walk is great in other ways too.

If I have something that’s particularly bothering me I will get off the bus a stop early on my way home from work and try to shift my focus onto something else, it can be as simple as bumping into a friendly cat, or watching a dog chase a ball in the park, or watching the light change as the sun sets.

Walking also offers the perfect opportunity to listen to the podcast you’ve been wanting to catch up on, and even the chance for you to think things through without the distraction of home. Talking to yourself out loud may not to be thought of as particularly socially acceptable, but seeing as everyone walks around with headphones and hands free kits it can be hard to tell the difference. So chat away, talk about your day, get things off your chest and relieve yourself of that burden.

Fuelling

It may seem obvious but eating and drinking is essential when you’re not quite feeling yourself. Usually when we feel under the weather, both mentally and physically, the first thing we do is stop eating and drinking.

However, it isn’t comfort food that will help, find food that you enjoy but is healthy and filling: soups, stews, pasta and noodles are all great ways of fuelling yourself without relying on cake to make yourself feel better. Plus you may even find the cooking process a little therapeutic.

Sleeping

If things are playing on your mind it can often lead to a lack of sleep. Sleep is so important for us to even function on a day to day basis. If you’re struggling with energy levels, concentration and motivation then be your own therapist and tell yourself that you need to get a good night’s sleep.

The easiest way to do this is to go to bed earlier. If like me, you’ll stay up late for no reason, getting distracted by TV, telling yourself you need to be up early in the morning, but still not going to bed at a decent time. Then in the morning that dreaded alarm goes off and you have to start the day all over again with only a fraction of the energy you should have.

Reading

Make time to relax with a good book, a delicious drink and a comfy chair. Reading really can be a form of therapy, taking you away into a fantasy land, an alternative reality or simply another dreamy location, allowing new and exciting stories and characters to pull you away from your every day routine.

You could even consider reading a selection of books on mental health, happiness, confidence and even therapy itself.

Regardless of what you read, it’s the process and the time taken that’s important.

Creating

Maintaining your hobbies is hugely important if you’re feeling low, especially ones that are creative. Whether it’s knitting, scrapbooking, photography, writing poetry, it’s all key to keeping that creativity flowing, to giving you something to focus on, and to allowing your mind to focus on something you enjoy.

If you’re losing motivation or feeling that creative flow is lacking then try producing a Vision Board, this is simply a a collage of images and words representing your wishes and goals, intended to serve as inspiration or motivation.

Travelling

Travel has helped me in more ways than I can actually explain, it has allowed me to step away from my daily routine.

I’m not suggesting that you quit your job or pack everything into a suitcase, a simple weekend break can sometimes be the thing you need to take a break. Travel can help you put things into perspective, give you time to step away from pressure and allow you to rethink how to solve the problems you might be having. It allows you to return with a fresh view on the situation and make any changes.

Are you working on being your own therapist?

Let me know in the comments.