HEALTH // Mental
Staying Emotionally Health
During Stressful Times
by Tiffany F. Haynes, Ph.D. - Feb.01.2021
For many of us, 2020 was a stressful year! As we counted down to 2021, most of us prayed for a break in the madness. But in the first three weeks of 2021, we’ve seen continued political unrest, surging COVID-19 infection rates, and ongoing isolation from our friends and loved ones.
Clearly, 2021 did not come to play with us! And as we deal with this constant stress, our mental health is taking the biggest hit. We see increased rates of anxiety, depression, grief, and a host of other mental health concerns since the start of the pandemic. So, since 2021 did not come in, sit down, and behave herself as we asked, the question now is, how do we take care of our emotional health during chaos?
Clearly, 2021 did not come to play with us! And as we deal with this constant stress, our mental health is taking the biggest hit. We see increased rates of anxiety, depression, grief, and a host of other mental health concerns since the start of the pandemic. So, since 2021 did not come in, sit down, and behave herself as we asked, the question now is, how do we take care of our emotional health during chaos?
First, listen to your mind and body.
You know how your car has a warning light to let you know you are running low on gas? Your body has a way of letting you know when your emotional tank is running low. When you start feeling more tired than usual, having problems concentrating, feeling sadder or more anxious than usual, having problems sleeping, or even changes in your appetite, these could be signs that your emotional health needs some attention. So, pay attention to the signs and don’t just keep pushing through. Stop and commit to doing something to fill your emotional tank.
Next, commit to filling your emotional tank every day.
When we are coping with chaos, it is vital that we consistently do something that fills our emotional tank. How do we fill our emotional tank? By making sure we’re physically healthy (yep, eating right and exercising are good for our emotional health too!), doing things that bring us joy (singing, dancing, knitting, etc.) and connecting with people who bring us good vibes. So, make a list of your personal emotional tank fillers and choose something from your list to do every day!
And last, but certainly not least, don’t be afraid to admit when you are not ok.
We are not always ok; sometimes we are stressed, sometimes we are sad, and sometimes we need someone to help us. And in those times when we aren’t ok, it’s ok to get some help. If you need to connect with a mental health professional, check out the Directory of Black therapists on the Arkansas Association of Black Psychology Professionals Facebook page or contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Arkansas at www.NAMIArkansas.org.
We probably have many more stressful days ahead of us. Some days the stress may seem like a lot to handle, but if we commit to taking care of our mental health, we’ll make it through this.
Tiffany Haynes, Ph.D., is a mental health advocate, researcher, and speaker with a passion for improving mental health for all. To contact her, email akiliwellnessllc@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter at @thaynesz.
You know how your car has a warning light to let you know you are running low on gas? Your body has a way of letting you know when your emotional tank is running low. When you start feeling more tired than usual, having problems concentrating, feeling sadder or more anxious than usual, having problems sleeping, or even changes in your appetite, these could be signs that your emotional health needs some attention. So, pay attention to the signs and don’t just keep pushing through. Stop and commit to doing something to fill your emotional tank.
Next, commit to filling your emotional tank every day.
When we are coping with chaos, it is vital that we consistently do something that fills our emotional tank. How do we fill our emotional tank? By making sure we’re physically healthy (yep, eating right and exercising are good for our emotional health too!), doing things that bring us joy (singing, dancing, knitting, etc.) and connecting with people who bring us good vibes. So, make a list of your personal emotional tank fillers and choose something from your list to do every day!
And last, but certainly not least, don’t be afraid to admit when you are not ok.
We are not always ok; sometimes we are stressed, sometimes we are sad, and sometimes we need someone to help us. And in those times when we aren’t ok, it’s ok to get some help. If you need to connect with a mental health professional, check out the Directory of Black therapists on the Arkansas Association of Black Psychology Professionals Facebook page or contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Arkansas at www.NAMIArkansas.org.
We probably have many more stressful days ahead of us. Some days the stress may seem like a lot to handle, but if we commit to taking care of our mental health, we’ll make it through this.
Tiffany Haynes, Ph.D., is a mental health advocate, researcher, and speaker with a passion for improving mental health for all. To contact her, email akiliwellnessllc@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter at @thaynesz.
