We all have bad days. Some have them more often than others. Mental health is not linear and can impact your life to a various extent on different days. With this in mind, it is important to have coping mechanisms that help relieve some of the strain and to improve your overall mood.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, skin care is one way that I cope with bad mental health days. Feeling clean and fresh feels like a new beginning to the day. However, this will not work for everyone which is normal. Some people have hobbies which help elevate their moods and/or relax their mind on a challenging day. For example, sometime I become overwhelmed with stress and anxiety as the result of having Generalised Anxiety Disorder so I turn to reading. Reading a book provides a new world to explore through different characters, providing an escape from my own mind and worries.

Despite this, some people may find it difficult to find an interest, particularly if you are coping with Depression. Please remember that not having a hobby does NOT make you any less of an incredible person! Not everyone has a hobby which is okay. If you are having a rough day you can find alternative coping methods. Some that I use are taking a relaxing bath, watching Netflix, taking a nap and just walking up to someone to have a conversation (usually my boyfriend or family).

While scrolling through Instagram earlier I came across a magnificent creation that may help some of you so I wanted to share it. There is an account called ‘MindsDoMatter’ that have created mental health awareness boxes. As soon as I saw this I thought it was an absolutely brilliant creation. They distributed their first box on the 1st of January – what a way to begin the year! The boxes include a variety of products to raise awareness and spread positive vibes. These include positive prints, stickers, mental health badges, mental health stigma pin, self-care books, A5 or A6 stationary, adult colouring books and sweet treats. See the image below to see their first ever box!

The items look very vibrant and positive. Absolutely loving the ‘Spread the love’ and the colourful ‘Hard times don’t last forever’. These items will brighten up someones day instantly by letting them know that there are people out there who care and that tough times are temporary.

If you would like to purchase one of these incredible boxes follow this link: https://mindsdomatter.bigcartel.com/product/mental-health-box

Everyone is different. Everyone is beautiful. Be you.
So go ahead and find a coping mechanism that works for you – anything that is safe and helps make you feel happy.