Full Disclosure: Clicking on these links could mean a tiny commission for me, at no extra cost to you.
As the clock clicks slowly towards a new year, you’ve probably been thinking about your New Years resolution for mental illness. While we are not a fan of this holiday, as I don’t believe you need a higher digit-in-year to make a change, the New Year is an ideal time for most people to set some new goals. So, look at 2018 as being a breath of fresh air; a new start to your future, and commit to achieving your goals, and to finally living the life you deserve. Our anxiety subscription box can help.
To Stop Being Ashamed of Mental Illness
Everyone suffering from mental illness can relate to being ashamed about their illness, as if it’s normal or okay to feel this way. Just think about how many times you’ve apologized and felt embarrassed because you had to cancel plans, couldn’t attend a certain event or simply couldn’t get out of bed. Probably a ton, right?
The reality is, you should never be ashamed of mental illness because it’s an illness just like any other. Someone with cancer doesn’t feel embarrassed because they have cancer, nor does someone with diabetes, fibromyalgia or asthma feel ashamed of their illness. Why? Because it’s a disease, something that you suffer from, but not something you need to apologize for.
In 2018, make one your New Years resolutions for mental illness to stop being ashamed of your mental illness.
To Stop Labeling Yourself
The best advice we have ever received is to remember ‘you have anxiety, but you aren’t anxiety.’ After suffering from mental illness for 20 years, the creator never figured this one out for herself until she was told ‘you aren’t your anxiety’. So hopefully, these words will work wonders for you as well – and it can be applied to any form of mental illness or disease for that matter.
Don’t let your illness take over your identity.
In 2018, make one of your New Year resolutions for mental illness to stop labeling yourself. When you place yourself under a label, you’re setting limitations for your life. You are subconsciously telling yourself that you are your disease and you’ll never be more than that, which couldn’t be any further from the truth.
You have anxiety, but you aren’t anxiety.
You have depression, but your depression doesn’t define you.
You were sexually abused, but you refuse to live as a victim.
Tell yourself these things every day in 2018 if you have to. Don’t let your illness take over your identity. Try a 30 Day Self Love program and discover who you are again.
To Seek the Help you Need
2018 is the year to stop making excuses. Stop putting counselling, exercise, self-help books, etc. on the back burner. Take control of your life, and seek the help you need. It doesn’t have to be an expensive anxiety treatment program, nor does it have to be time-consuming. Something as simple as joining Anxiety-Gone and reading the tips provided, or going on daily walks will work wonders.
You are the only thing stopping yourself from treatment.
To Truly, Genuinely Love Yourself
Our favourite New Years Resolution for mental illness is to truly, genuinely love yourself – the good, the bad and the ugly. Love it all. Write down the things you love about yourself, along with the things you feel are flaws. Over the course of 2018, try to stroke out those flaws by adding new things to your “love” list by discovering new talents, attributes, and qualities.
Focus on getting to know who you are, and loving who you are and the rest will follow.
We recommend trying Yoga for Healing. This form of exercise is an excellent (and beautiful) way to connect your mind, body, and soul. It’ll also help you get some daily exercise in, which is one of the best ways to naturally treat anxiety.