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“Stress, anxiety and depression are caused when we are living to please others”
Paulo Coelho
How many of us ignore our own needs everyday in order to do what is expected of us? We may feel others are depending on us to play a certain role. Families, relationships and work can all place pressures and expectations on us. It can be hard to say no and risk the anger, disappointment or judgment of others. Sometimes it is our own inner voice that pushes us on, unwilling to feel the guilt of letting someone down or looking at our own needs.
So often we just carry on, burying our own unhappiness and stress. But pushing aside our own feelings and needs in this way can come with a cost. We can end up feeling emotionally exhausted and physically run down. Stress and anxiety may leave us lying awake at night unable to sleep, dreading the day to come. We may start to feel trapped, hopeless and unable to cope.
Self-care isn’t about putting our own needs above everything else. It is about recognising that we matter as well. Good mental health starts with taking an honest look at what we are experiencing in our lives and how this is impacting on us. Self-care involves looking at how we can best support and care for ourselves in the face of these experiences, particularly those we find most challenging. This can include small things such as taking more time for ourselves, asking for help when we need it or talking about how we are feeling.
Remember, we can’t truly support others when we are struggling ourselves. Recognising and acknowledging that we are feeling overwhelmed is the first step towards creating balance in our lives. Making small changes to include self-care in our everyday life can have a profound effect on our mental and physical well-being. For simple self-care strategies see my article https://www.janejustincounselling.ie/single-post/2019/04/11/Self-Care-The-Key-To-Good-Mental-Health
I’m always happy to talk about how to support our mental health and well-being.
Make a change today
Have a great week, Jane
086 8888583
www.janejustincounselling.ie
info@janejustincounselling.ie
Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Portlaoise, Co. Laois