We were very happy to have teen blogger and anxiety sufferer Skyla give us some tips on maintaining your mental health. Before you delve into her wise words of wisdom, get to know her a little better through an intro excerpted from her blog:
“Hey there, well my name is Skyla and this is my boyfriend Tate and I. I am 17 years old and from Canada . For the past year I have struggled with bad anxiety which is why I created “The Happy Guppy”. Along with this blog being a fun project and a place for me to talk to you guys about a variety of different things, it will also be about anxiety awareness and mental health awareness. I want to help fight the stigma on mental health and give people a safe place to tell their story and read about other stories and find helpful tips about anxiety and also have a good laugh too. you can follow me on Instagram at thehappyguppy.”
Skyla’s own struggles with anxiety have given her insight into how to manage her own mental health. Here’s what Skyla had to say:
Mental health can be a very difficult thing to control, especially when it comes to anxiety. I know first hand that, if you don’t have a way of expressing yourself or an activity to keep you busy and occupied , it can be very very difficult to get a hold on things. Here are a few tips to help you express yourself and cope with life.
1. Art
Personally, I love art, painting, drawing, and doing crafts. I find it to be relaxing and it takes my mind off of whatever is going on.
2. Yoga
Yoga is another one of my favourites. It stretches you out, relaxes your muscles, and is really good for anxiety. When you have anxiety, you don’t realize it- but you get so tense from all the stress and worry. Don’t even get me started on being tired. That’s why I find yoga so so helpful and fun . It is important to have something to do to free your mind; recovery starts when you stop listening and start doing. Stop listening to your anxiety, and start doing what YOU want to do- putting your mind and energy into something positive.
3. Blogging
I blog to stay positive. I would like to say that it started out so I could help others, but I started it to help myself first. I told others my story and hoped there were others who could relate, so I didn’t feel so alone.
I also started blogging with the hope of creating something to help others (which I think I have done)… to make others aware and not feel so alone, like I myself did. I think it is important to try something different; I like doing different activities- activities that I have never done before.
4. New Activities
Just recently I started doing puzzles. I’m still not a huge fan of them, but I would do another. It was challenging and was kind of fun. I wish I enjoyed activities like reading, but I just can’t do it. If you’re like me, try doing something with other people. Go out with your friends and do something new together.
My point is, no matter what it is, it is so important to find something- anything- to express yourself, to find an outlet to get out of your head for a while and relax. We all know how hard it is to relax when you are anxious or even just stressed, so find something that helps you let go of the anxiety and stress.
Written By: Guest Blogger Skyla. You can find Skyla’s work on her blog or on her Instagram.
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