Self care is about giving yourself time alone to reset and refresh, but it doesn’t mean you should always be alone. Even people who like their own company have a social need to some extent, and it can be hard to find the time and energy to fill this need.
This is a very common issue with stay-at-home parents. If you go to work, you get some social interaction, even if it’s not with your friends. But if you’re at home with your kids all day, you might crave some adult interaction.
Most adults struggle to keep up with friendships, especially when responsibilities like work and family life take over. So, make an effort to meet up with friends or make new ones. Get a babysitter in, finish work early, and make sure you spend time with people you can talk to and have fun with.
If you do have concerns about your mental health, your friends can be a shoulder to lean on or cry on, no matter what you need. Sometimes even just a rant with a glass of wine can let you blow off some steam and keep you happy.
Getting Further Help
One of the best things about the modern world is that there isn’t much stigma about mental health problems. This means that you can feel free to talk to your friends about what’s going on, no matter what. But it also means that, if you need help, it’s easier than ever to seek it out.
You can often speak to a professional through counseling sessions. It could be argued that everyone should talk to a counselor at some point because it gives you the tools to work through life in a healthy way. After all, we all deal with stress and grief and everything else an ordinary life in this modern world throws at us.
But what if you need more help? Mental illness isn’t a sign of weakness or an issue with morality. It’s just a sign that you’re not well. If you’re physically ill, you see a doctor. The same applies to your mental health.
Depending on your needs, you might benefit from therapy, medication, or a mental health program designed to help you with your mental and emotional well-being. After all, we all want to be as healthy as possible, and happiness and mental health play an enormous role in that.
