September 10, 2021
Many of us pay a lot of attention to what we eat. We count our calories, limit fatty foods, and reduce our intake of sugar and salt. And we make an effort to eat the not-so-good-for-us-foods in moderation. We may love French fries but we all know the consequences if that were all we ate for a week.
It's the same with our emotions. Just like the foods we eat, some are more nutritious than others.
Do you live on a regular diet of stressful emotions? Do you worry a lot or get down on yourself all the time or feel anxious about something every day?
A steady diet made up of these kinds of emotions can be harmful to your mental and physical health as well as the overall quality of your life. We're not advocating repressing 'negative' emotions or never feeling sad or frustrated. But we do know that positive emotions, like appreciation, care and kindness, are more beneficial in the long run.
So, if you're ready to improve your emotional diet, here are a few tips:
1. Curb your intake of negative emotions. Next time you feel yourself feeling sad, mad or frustrated, take a deep breath and remember a positive or fun time in your life and attempt to re-experience it.
2. Don't wait until you're starving to grab a snack. Shift to a positive emotion any time, any place; not just when you feel stressed.
3. Stuff yourself on positive emotions. Celebrate all that you value and appreciate all that's good in your life every day. Keep a Gratitude Journal!
If you are experiencing so much anxiety and distress that you are finding it difficult to function in your everyday life, it may be time to seek professional help. If so, please contact our department at 254-675-8621, ext 7853. We would be happy to help you through this process. For more information about the Behavioral Health Dept, please visit our services page: https://bit.ly/3kI8ObB.
