Feel As Good As You Look: How I Take Care Of My Mental Health

I suffer from anxiety. And while I haven’t been diagnosed by a trained professional, I know what it feels like to be a chronic worrier and to stress over things that haven’t even happened. May is Mental Health Awareness Month so I wanted to blog about the importance of staying mentally healthy. Yes, GoodGirlGoneFab is primarily a beauty blog but with having my own platform, I also have the responsibility of sharing other topics that will in result create a more FAB lifestyle.

With that being said, it’s impossible to be your true beautiful self if your mind is suffering. I had to learn that the hard way. Trying to mask the frustrations of life with lipstick and concealer, only get me so far before I realize that I need to work on my mental health too.  We all want to feel as good as we look when we’re glowing and seemingly perfectly made up. So I wanted to share a few ways that I unwind and take care of my mental health. (I’m not an expert. These are just ways I cope that may be helpful!)

1. Take A Mental Day…Week, Month, Whatever You Need: If you feel too bogged down with anything, the best thing I’ve learned is to remove yourself from the situation and give yourself time to regroup. It’s nothing wrong with taking personal time to get your mind right. Too many times I would keep myself in a situation because I “didn’t want to give up,” but it’s not giving up to detach yourself from the world to give yourself fresh air. Taking a mental day to be productive, relax, catch up on other work, hang with family or friends, or just enjoy your own company is essential to feel more fab.
2. Take Care Of Your Body: This doesn’t necessarily mean work out and keep a strict diet 100% of the time. Doing simple things such as walking more, taking care of your skin, drinking water instead of juice/pop, eating more fresh foods and of course, getting sleep.  I’ve noticed how much sleep and increasing my water intake helps me focus mentally. Those are the two things that I know I can rely on to make me feel refreshed. Like, I said before, it’s okay to take time to unwind your body and mind have to be in-synch to function at it’s best.
3. Meditate And Take A Deep Breath: While this is another cliche remedy, it works. I get pretty riled up and angry, pretty fast. I let small things annoy me and I can lash out when it’s not needed. It took me awhile to realize this but one thing that I do to calm myself down is to pause in my moment of frustration and breathe. Who knew that taking a deep breath could clear your mind so easily?  Probably everyone. Lol. But it has indeed helped my mind relax and helped me think more clearly.
4. Ask For Help: Asking for help is something that I notice a lot of Black people don’t do. It feels as if we must teach ourselves how to deal with a problem so we can be considered strong. But asking for help doesn’t make me feel weak anymore. I’ve learned to accept when I can’t do it all by myself and I’m lucky to have a boyfriend who helps me even when I don’t ask. We have family, friends, and partners for many reasons and one of those reasons is to be there as a support system. There’s also nothing wrong with getting professional help. Typically they have unbiased resources to help you deal with the issues you need help with and it feels good to have an outside helping hand.

Also, since a most of my readers are women I wanted to share a podcast that has helped me recently! Therapy for Black Girls is a resource that talks about social and mental issues that Black women face in today’s world. It’s always a positive discussion that sheds light on the issues and also gives resources to deal with them personally. It is hosted by Dr. Joy, a licensed Psychologist that wants her listeners to become a better version of themselves. I listen every week and I love it!