Taking control of your own wellness

I’ve been wanting to write a post for a while about how I manage my anxiety and depression with hopes it would normalize the mental health woes Black people and Black women specifically deal with. I’ve been marinating on this post for a minute trying to think of how I wanted to talk about a topic that’s really important and deeply personal to me. 

I’ve been listening to Snoh Aalegra’s new album and my favorite song right now is “Violet Skies” and it’s perfect for this moment.

“I've always been a worrier
But I'll always be a warrior,
Took a little time to find my way,
All those times that I was lonely,
I was never alone,
Through it all I would grow,
Wish I would've known”

I felt like she wrote this song just for me because it’s exactly how I feel. Figuring out what works for you, what your feelings are, and how to work through your emotions is a journey. I’ve recently been talking to my therapist about how I grapple with the idea that I will always just feel sad or anxious, regardless if it’s debilitating in the moment or not, it’s a forever thing that I had to figure out on my own how to manage and that was s lot for me to take on. Snoh’s song reminded that even in the moment I’m not alone, I’ll grow from this, and to give myself grace. 

I don’t think I’ve ever spoke directly about what it’s like to live with depression and anxiety especially high functioning depression and anxiety. I don’t know many people who are high functioning but it is a thing and I’ve dealt with it for over 10 years now.  I’ve been struggling a lot with my anxiety lately and decided to start back working out twice a day. The weight of what’s happening in the world coupled with what’s happening to me in my life is a lot to deal with.  I was just doing yoga but even that I started to slack up on because I was feeling really overwhelmed and just couldn’t bring myself to get on my mat. 

I don’t have anything against medicine for folks who take it, I’ve taken medicine before in my teens. I do believe for myself that I can naturally manage my mental health myself with daily exercise, drinking at least 120 oz of water and eating well. I’ve been doing that on and off since college, but I’ve been the most consistent the last two years and you can see a clear difference in my overall wellness.

In a 2018 narrative review study six scientists studied the effects of dehydration and depression and anxiety symptoms. They found that drinking more water helps to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Depression specifically has a direct connection to those who are dehydrated and causes stronger depressive symptoms. 

When your body is hydrated it helps you release more toxins and balance your mood out. All depression and anxiety is is a chemical imbalance, you can easily counter that with releasing endorphins through various activities. My favorite is exercise, usually yoga, dance cardio, and running. But the same endorphins can also be released by doing something that makes you happy, eating a comfort meal, having sex, or listening to a song you love. I read a great article a few weeks ago about how you can regulate your body through exercise and orgasms, all natural remedies. 

I know tons of people who take medicine for their mental health, but I know even more who don’t have access to doctors, or money for medication. So I wanted to offer some alternatives that I do that help me. But I also wanna affirm folks right to be selfish in their wellness. It’s ok to put yourself first and take time to figure out what works for you, your body will thank you.