“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at anytime and be yourself.” Hermann Hesse
In the past, I’ve struggled with maintaining employment because I became overwhelmed and stressed that led my symptoms to flare up. I’ve had to quit jobs that I enjoyed because I could not cope and manage well. Every day I reflect on strategies to maintain wellness; walking, resting, journaling, talking to my higher power, etc.
In addition to medication management, I am mindful of my body’s need to decompress. To relax I listen to music or walk. However, with the summer heat I cannot maintain my walks, which helped clear my thoughts and boost my energy and mood. I recycle coping skills daily. Most of the time this practice works, but right now I can feel my mental capability to maintain daily responsibilities is wearing down. I recognize that to keep my job I must change my routine to create balance again.
While I love my job, my mental health requires more attention right now. I’ve had to make a difficult decision of reducing my work hours. In the meantime, I will continue to check in with my support system and stay committed to my therapy sessions. With more time I will able to keep my wellness and job. I am looking forward to developing my new self-care regimen.
To acknowledge my limitations is to understand how to reposition myself to press forward.
To understand my limitations is not to hold me back but to continue to develop my strengths.
These are some of the battles I continue to struggle with.
This is my life.
Still, I am hopeful. I am determined, and believe I will overcome. Leaning on my experience with past setbacks, I aim to be careful with my mental health.
“Self-care means giving yourself permission to pause.” Cecilia Tran
Have you had to make a difficult decision between something that you love doing and your mental health?
In those situations, how have you stayed hopeful and pressed forward?
How do you balance your self-care and daily responsibilities?
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