As the holidays draw to a close and the new year looms, many are struggling with depression in the midst of an atmosphere of cheer. The good news is that if that’s true for you, you aren’t the only one. It’s sometimes a comfort to see public figures, like comedian Ruby Wax, address their own mental health issues in the press, confirming that even those who appear to have it all are working through things that anyone might face. Here’s an excerpt adapted from “Sane New World,” by Ruby Wax, via Yahoo News, and you can click through using the link below to access the full story. And remember, if you’re in the greater Cleveland area– we’re here.
The good news: Attention is the road to freedom
When you train your attention, you unwire old neural patterns and create new ones. Notice when you feel stress coming on; notice how your breathing and posture change. Don’t suppress your thoughts or feelings, or run away from them. Each time we experience our feelings, without judging ourselves or trying to fix things, we’re building a muscle — and gaining new perspective.
Negativity is all in your head (mostly)
Most of us fall into bad thinking habits. Overgeneralizing, all-or-nothing scenarios, jumping to conclusions, and personalization are just a few examples of distorted thought patterns — each of which we can “unlearn” with practice. Every time I notice an audience member glance away when I’m onstage, I’m absolutely certain I will flop for the rest of my life, leading to moods so dark they’ll be responsible for causing earthquakes halfway across the planet. Just a hypothetical example.
Small steps make big changes
Every tiny change you make opens up a small chink in the wall you’ve built around yourself; keep on changing and you’ll eventually break free. The chair you’re used to sitting in — change it. The route you take every day — change it. The people you surround yourself with — mix it up a bit. Sleep on the other side of the bed. Change your toothpaste/perfume/lipstick/soup. (Maybe think twice before you change your husband/wife. Maybe.)