I can't believe we are already a week into 2022!
I have been so ready for 2021 to be over. It wasn't a great year for me personally. I'd say worse than 2020. I'm ready for a clean slate and a new start.
A new year can bring anxiety and fear or a feeling of hope and renewal.
So far it hasn't been great for me but I'm still trying to be hopeful.
My depression is bad. It started when my New Year's Eve plans got messed up by a snowstorm. The entire weekend was a wash and I let it get to me. To add to it my day care got hit with sicknesses.
Today (January 8th) is the first time I've left my house since December 27th. That's not healthy. But it shows how deep my depression went.
I'll talk more about my diagnosis, experiences and things that have happened in my life in my upcoming videos and blogs. For now, I want to focus on how we face a new year.
A lot of people make resolutions.. whether it be for physical health, mental health or just life in general.
I want to encourage you to make goals.. even small goals.
A resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something while a goal is the object of a person's ambition or effort, an aim or desired result. Doesn't a goal sound more attainable? For me personally, if I don't accomplish a resolution, I feel like I failed. If I set goals, then it can continue to be a goal until I do accomplish it.
Let me tell you a story...
I have PTSD.
One of the effects is that I can get a panic attack in the middle of our small town grocery store. So before Christmas I needed to get quite a bit of stuff and didn't want to drive out of town. I literally text my mom and asked which aisle each of my items were located so that I knew exactly how to approach the store. If I stand in any spot for too long, panic starts to rise. Well, I did it! I made it through!
It's a victory!!
I don't know what you face in the new year. I don't know what your mental health is like. But I encourage you to set small goals.
"Today I'll do my hair rather than just pull it into a messy bun."
My friend set a goal to force herself to think of a positive thought first thing in the morning. It may not stick all day. It may turn out to be a horrible day. But every morning, she is going to start with a positive thought.
That's a great goal and can have a huge impact!!
And a great thing is that if she misses a day, it's okay. Just try again tomorrow.
I want all of us to be a little stronger in 2022.
I want to spread mental health awareness.
I want to break the stigma that comes with saying "I see a therapist" or "I have a psychiatrist".
In the upcoming weeks, I'll dive deeper into my own personal story and journey. I also want to teach about things you may not know...
Winter Blues is not the same thing as Seasonal Depression (what?!?)
I will explain all of that soon but for now let's think on the new year and the small goals we can set to give ourselves victories. I'm cheering for you.
As always... email me at mannas.musings@gmail.com
and check out my YouTube channel https://youtu.be/BDzSS8k8D2U
