The 8 Best Methods To Cope With A Mental Breakdown
Looking after your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you are dealing with a mental breakdown, you can feel so alone and unsure of the best way to cope with it. This article will tell you the 8 best methods to cope with a mental breakdown and how to reduce the risk of it happening again.
1. Breathe
Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Repeat.
If you find yourself panicking or going through a mental breakdown, just stop for a moment and inhale for 5 seconds and then exhale slowly. This will immediately put you in a calm state where you only focus on your breathing.
2. Talk to someone
Talk to someone you trust – this can be a close friend, a family member or your significant other. Talking to someone will help and they can provide you with help and support when you need it.
By having a good support network, this means you can turn to that trusted someone when you want to talk about any troublesome feelings. Get things off your chest and don’t feel like you are a burden – everyone has troubles every now and again and you don’t need to tackle things by yourself.
3. Put together a sleep schedule
Having a mental breakdown can drain a lot out of you. If you have trouble sleeping or have an irregular sleeping pattern, put together a sleep schedule and stick to it.
Getting enough sleep is important for you to re-energise your body but also to calm your mind and help you wake up feeling refreshed. Sticking to a sleep schedule will ensure you are getting a healthy amount of sleep and will mean your body clock is not all over the place.
4. Meditation
Meditation involves doing simple exercises which focus on mental and physical relaxation. This will clear your mind and take away your worries as well as allowing you to concentrate on your breathing.
You will also be able to do light stretches which will help you get rid of all your aches and pains.
5. Cut down on your working hours/reduce your responsibilities
A common cause of a mental breakdown is stress that is job-related. If you find that you are stressed out a lot and you are unable to cope with your workload, have a chat with your boss and ask if you can reduce your working hours or reduce the number of responsibilities you have.
Cutting down your hours or amount of responsibilities will give you time to focus on yourself and your mental wellbeing.
6. Ask for help
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it is someone you trust, a counsellor or doctor there is always someone who will be there to help you.
Support is always available and taking that first step to ask for help will mean you are on your way to slowly having better mental health. There are different kinds of support so it is all about finding what works for you.
7. Find a hobby/activity you enjoy
A great coping mechanism for a mental breakdown is to do more of what you love. If there is a hobby or activity you enjoy, do more of it. Whatever it is, try doing more outdoors and getting some fresh air.
Rather than staying stuck inside a stuffy environment all the time, all the dust can have an impact on your breathing. Get some fresh air in your lungs and some vitamin D.
8. Eating a healthy diet
Taking care of your body is just as important as your physical and mental health go hand in hand.
You may find that you skip meals occasionally or eat at irregular times. This can affect your internal digestive system so make sure to eat regularly and healthily. Have a well-rounded diet to ensure you have your vitamins and protein.
