[, Music ], you hi, I’m John I’m 37 and for most of my adult life, I’ve struggled with mental illness. The medication I take helps most of the time, but sometimes when I’m stressed or overworked, my symptoms creep up on me and I have to work really hard to get them under control again, but over the years I’ve learned a few strategies that have helped me deal With my symptoms before they become a big problem, these tips have really helped me stay healthy and positive. First, I try to focus on the positive things in my life. I think about the family, friends and treatment team members supporting me in my recovery journey. I know they are there to help me find solutions. If I come up with solutions instead of just focusing on the negatives, I find I feel much better and each day I deliberately take time to appreciate and recognize everything. I am thankful for I’ll write in my journal. Send my friends thank-you cards or help others. When I focus on all the good stuff in my life, I don’t spend as much time thinking about the bad stuff. Next, it’s really important for me to connect with others being around. My friends and family always puts me in a better mood and helps my self-esteem. These meaningful relationships help me maintain a positive attitude which gives me space for personal growth. It’S also very important for me to stay physically fit. I tried to eat a healthy diet, exercise a little each day and get enough sleep as directed by my physician. I always feel great after a workout, even if it’s just a walk around the block. One of the hardest things for me was developing coping skills that worked for me. It was tough to learn how to respond in a healthy way to stress sadness, criticism and negativity. When I learned what worked for me, I was able to get back to being myself. One way I learned to cope is by writing about my negative experiences and how they made me feel. I also got professional help when I needed it. I learned to recognize the signs and symptoms that I knew were warning signs that I was not doing so well and I felt it’s better to reach out for help sooner rather than later asking for help takes courage, and I am so glad I asked my wife To help me find a therapist, my therapist helps me in ways that my friends and family can’t don’t get me wrong. Their support is also very important to me. It took me a while to start putting these strategies into play. It didn’t happen overnight. I tried them. One by one, some work better for me than others, but everyone’s different. So I take my medication as directed by my doctor and when I’m feeling extra stressed, I know I have the tools to help me get back on track. Talk with your doctor. Try these tips and find the strategies that work for you, you, [, Music, ],
