Summertime means that the sun will be up to awake you of the new day that awaits you and will have the chance to have an adventure. Mental illness symptoms can make it hard during seasonal vacations whether you have anxiety, depression, or any other mental illness. It is important to take advantage of the sunny weather by being active and mending relationships to take care of your mental health this summer.
Rest
Having depression or anxiety can make it hard for you to go to sleep. It does not seem fair since summer is the time to sleep in whether you are off from classes or taking a vacation. With racing thoughts that cannot turn off in your head, this can make it seem impossible to shut your eyes or you will wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to fall back asleep. It is important to sleep for seven to eight hours a day. You can make an alarm for when you want to fall asleep, keeping in mind that it takes about 15 minutes to fall asleep. Make sure that there is nothing to distract you from waking up, even if that means wearing earplugs or a sleeping mask for no noise or light to break through your room.
Exercise
Take advantage of the fact that the sun is out. With the sun out, you are free to take a walk or a run for 30-60 minutes. You can also play a sport, go swimming, walk your dog, etc. Exercising will do wonders for your mental health as movement will increase the endorphins your body makes which are feel-good hormones that will get released. You can also break up the day and go on shorter walks if you are not up for a long one.
Make Connections
Use this summer as a way to build connections or mend broken connections. You may not have many friends because your anxiety or depression made it too hard. Maybe your friendships were harder to keep because you could not keep your symptoms under control. Summer can be your time to join a meetup of people who play sports together or volunteer. Call up your friends and plan a vacation with them. Use this summer as the season for you to be in control of your mental health and use your newfound energy to have fun.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, now is the time to reach out for help. At Arbor Behavioral Healthcare, you will meet knowledgeable, compassionate professionals that understand addiction in all its forms. The Arbor uses an integrative and holistic approach to treat addiction and mental health issues. No treatment is one-size-fits-all, and at The Arbor, you will have a team of experts prepared to create your customized treatment plan. We offer care for your mind, body, and spirit so that you can heal from the inside out and look forward to a lifetime of sobriety and wellness. If you are ready to take the first step in your recovery, please call us at 844-413-2690.