Lessons learnt during my mental health struggles

To not worry about having bad days and to think that I'm becoming unwell again, and realise that everyone has bad days and set backs are part of the recovery journey.

To show self compassion and its not helpful or needed to beat myself up for not looking after myself as good as I would like. I view it as when I've been struggling I would be having a hard enough time it is, and adding guilt to the mix isn't helpful and much better in my view if I can to show some self-compassion.

That just because I've been unwell for a while, on a length or time that I will always be unwell.

I use to think that my mental health is different, and that people that have recovered must have something different to me. I've learnt through experience that this is not the case and I read in "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" that this is a common delusion in people.

I've learnt how to have more energy and cope with tiredness from antipsychotic medication. Walking little and often, eating healthy foods, nibbling on nuts, drinking water reguarlly.

After becoming pre-diabetic on anti-psychotic medication. I've learnt to try and eat healthier foods and preferably less sugary ones. As it really is not worth getting diabetes, especially while I'm also struggling with a mental health condition. If I want to eat something often I was recommended to eat celery because you don't put any weight on while eating it. Hummus and cracker biscuits and yoghurt for me helps deal with bad hunger cravings from this medication.

To take things day by day when struggling

I've learnt obviously it's always good to be conscience of mistakes that I've made, but the useless regret (i.e. guilt ) is not helpful and CBT was helpful in addressing this.

One thing I've learnt that's helpful for myself was writing down any achievements that I've done in a diary or phone. This can help motivate myself a great deal.

Writing things down can help new ideas come to my head and I find writing is effective (for myself) at dealing with any problems or worries I may be facing.

I've learnt not to bottle up my thoughts and speak to loved ones or mental health professionals about my mental health. Talking to people has helped me a great deal.

Writing a list of things to look forward to when struggling - no matter how small or how long in the future can make me feel better and allow me to change the channel when I'm thinking about negative things. Some examples of things that I look forward to: any new music, books, movies, tv shows coming out. Any holidays I might want to go on (aboard or in the UK). Anything that I want to buy or any hobbies that you can only do certain times of the year. Any events or festivals, meeting up with friends, seeing my mental health worker or any meetups.

I feel listening to the radio can help reduce the amount I ruminate. I've heard from someone else who deals with rumination that the radio helps them also.