A
Better
Written by:
Gina C De Baca
H
appy February! Have you stuck with your
New Year’s resolutions or have they fallen by
the wayside? If you’ve strayed from your reso-
lutions, don’t fret. It takes time for a thought
to become an action and an action to become a
habit.
In keeping with our self-care series, this month
we will be learning to care for our mental
health. This can be a touchy subject for some, as
so many people believe that taking care of our
mental health means we have something wrong
within ourselves. That could be the case, but it
is not always.
healthy.
YOU
Medication can help balance us out but should
not be used as a long-term remedy, unless we are
diagnosed with a severe disorder, in which case,
please take all medication as directed by your
physician and follow through with any other
methods of care the doctor prescribes. Medica-
tion often goes hand in hand with talk therapy
to help us get to a better place in a shorter peri-
od.
I will be the first to admit that I was very skep-
tical about speaking to a therapist. I was one
who believed that if you had to see a therapist
you were weak. I have since learned that this is
not the case. You must be incredibly strong to
be vulnerable. When we allow ourselves to talk
about our experiences, own what is ours to own,
Who we are is often shaped by our past experi- accept the fact that sometimes bad things hap-
ences. If we have experienced something trau- pen, and resolve to learn and grow, we come out
matic or devastating, we can hold on to the feel- a million times better than we started out.
ings of despair, suffering, and worthlessness. If
we do not find ways to cope with our experiences Anyone who knows me knows that I have been in
we can begin to believe these feelings which can many unhealthy relationships and circumstanc-
es. For a very long time I lacked self-love, which
lead to anxiety or depression.
does a lot more damage to your psyche than
If you suffer from any of these disorders, know many realize. I learned to put reminders in var-
that you are not alone. Seek the advice of a medical ious places that I see regularly that I am worthy.
professional so you can get back on track. The two These affirmations remind me that even when I
most common methods of healing to get back on am feeling bad about myself or in general, that I
the road to good health are medication and talk am an amazing woman. Here are a few affirma-
therapy. Contrary to popular belief, there is ab- tions to write down and put by your mirror, or
solutely no shame in either. We must do whatever even on your computer at work: “You are loved.”
is necessary to help change our mindset and get us “You are beautiful.” “You are special.” “You are
To be the best versions of ourselves, we must
take care of our whole being. Taking care of our-
selves physically is much easier than taking care
of our mental well-being. This self-care requires
us to look deeper into ourselves than we are
sometimes wanting or willing to do.
A Better you