Mind Cleansing

The year-that-shall-not-be-named taught us better than anything that mental health and self-care are beyond important. Social media influencers and celebrities endorse products to help us "stay fit", "get skinny", or "obtain that hourglass figure". They always push this agenda that physical health and appearance take precedence. But where are the advertisements and endorsements for a clear mind?...positive thoughts?...good mental health? Fortunately, mental health issues are beginning to be taken more seriously in our culture and society, and there are more and more resources to help us conquer our mental struggles and fight the stigma. But, even then, it can be difficult to know when, where, and how to practice self-care.

Just before the new year began, I noticed that I wasn't truly allowing myself to feel. Anytime I was angry, I simply calmed myself. When I was sad, I held back and pushed down the tears. Finally, it all became too much. I decided to truly take a moment for myself; I sat down, started to record myself on my phone, and talked out every feeling I had ignored from the past year. The floodgates broke and the tears poured out, and I felt lighter than I had in the longest time. It was my own little self-therapy session. And it was as simple as that.

Staying mentally healthy is not too difficult of a task when we learn how to listen to our brains and give ourselves what we need. It really can be as simple as ranting to yourself, having a good crying sesh, or allowing yourself to feel anger and frustration.

One of the biggest issues I have faced in my mental health journey is my inclination to put others feelings before my own. It is naturally instilled in us that when we don't tend to others first, we are selfish. While helping people is always kind, it's not always what we personally need. When you focus on others without caring for yourself first, you cannot give them your best effort, energy, advice, etc. We cannot help others when we have nothing to give.

While mental growth and true relaxation require effort to learn and listen to your mind's deeper desires, there are a few tools to help in a pinch. Think of these next resources as the skinny teas and tummy wraps of mental health but legit instead of scammy.

App: Clear Fear

Clear Fear is an app available on Apple and Android devices that uses many different techniques to help fight off, learn about, and manage anxiety and other mental health issues, including OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and FOMO (fear of missing out (yes, it's a real thing)).

The app uses real, helpful techniques as well as fun activities and an aesthetic nature to make you feel calm, distracted, happy, etc. There are spaces to journal, pages simply about breathing, places to educate yourself, and even a feature called Safety Net, where you write down techniques you are already familiar with that help you alongside the contact of someone trusted, in the event of an emergency.

The app and all its features are completely free and it also has cute characters to help you along your mental health journey.

Books: Stop Self-Sabotaging by Dr Judy Ho, PHD, Again but Better by Christine Riccio, and People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

Self-help books can often feel gimmicky or tell you things you already know but with buzz words like 'power', 'success', 'influence', etc. Stop Self-Sabotage is written by neuropsychologist Dr Judy Ho and is packed full of real psychological reasons behind the way we think and how it affects our mental, emotional, and even physical progress. The book is based on LIFE elements (L = Low or shaky self-concept, I = Internalized Beliefs, F = Fear of change or the unknown, E = Excessive need for control) which help to determine the underlying reason of why we self-sabotage. Dr Ho goes deep into her research to give us far behind a surface level understanding of our minds and why we often get in our own ways. The LIFE element test is free to take online and can be helpful in taking your first steps toward stopping self-sabotage.

The book is full of activities and encourages you to keep a journal in order to work through some of the assignments and tasks. Dr Ho does an excellent job of explaining things in simplier terms and creating tasks for all kinds of brains in order to find something that works for everyone. I highly reccommend this book, and I use techniques from it daily.

On the purely entertaining side rather than educational, I reccomend Again But Better by Christine Riccio and People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry. Both of these books have aspects of romance, finding yourself, and travel, which makes them the most fun to read in a time like this. These books did a great job of transporting me to a different world and I love both their authors. For more book recommendations, you can check out my Goodreads (raineneal) and my YouTube channel (Raine Neal). Speaking of YouTube...

Movies/TV/YouTube:

There are all kinds of mental health and self-care days and some just don't call for active treatment or education. Some call for escape and distraction. While escapism is not a healthy tactic for all issues, we all need some down time every once in a blue moon. These are my reccommendations for content that engulfs my brain and takes me away from the real world, and subsequently the problems in it, if only for a few hours.

YouTube: Calmed by Nature, Nick DiRamio, Better Together Podcast

Calmed by Nature is an incredibly relaxing channel consisting of created scenes and scenarios tailored perfectly for relaxtion. The videos span hours and are the perfect background noise for sleep, studying, reading, and more. This is my favorite page of its kind because of the minor details in the sound and visual scenery.

Nick DiRamio is where I get my comedic fix. He never fails to make me laugh with his videos, which consist of mainly his highly beloved Clip Breakdowns, in which he watches all kinds of popular media and uses his expertise in film and theatre to give comedic commentary. He is a delight.

The Better Together Podcast is hosted by Sebastian Gomez, possibly one of the kindest people on the face of the planet. The podcast has an overall nice, chill vibe and lots of interesting guest. For those who are religious, Sebastian is a Christian and subsequently produces some faith-related content, as well. I love his main YouTube channel as well (Sebastian Gomez) where he has created a series called The Happiness Project, which is just as positive as it sounds.

Movies:

Netflix: Crazy Stupid Love, The Fundamentals of Caring

Crazy Stupid Love is undeniably one of my favorite movies of all time. The drama, the romance, the comedy, the plot twists, the real way of showing that all of our lives and stories intermingle and connect in some way. An amazing all-star cast is just the cherry on top of this film.

The Fundamentals of Caring is on the quirkier side of Netflix Originals. It's a comedy mostly but has extreme tones of tragedy. Paul Rudd shines in this movie, and again it involves travelling. We can't do it so why not do it vicariously.

Hulu: I Still Believe, Soul Surfer

I Still Believe is a beautiful movie to cry to for my Christian readers. It's an amazing religious movei based on the real life happenings of worship singer Jeremy Camp. It's a pick-me-up and a bring-me-down simultaneously.

Soul Surfer is another happy-sad combo movie based on the true story of surfer Bethany Hamilton. This movie and the story of Bethany is so inspirational and moving, and it has a great soundtrack.

TV:

Netflix: Down to Earth With Zac Efron

Even if nature docs are not for you, Down to Earth with Zac Efron is for you. I guess anything travel related really speaks to my soul because here we are again. Zac and crew travel to interesting places all around the world and learn about the inner workings of simple things we take for granted, as well as our beautiful planet and how to help it.

Hulu: The Masked Singer

Okay, hear me out. The Masked Singer is nothing if not a good distraction. Watching your favorite celebrities sing your favorite songs while adorned in insane and oftentimes beautiful costumes is entertaining enough without the added factor of clue packages, which you use to ultimately reveal the masked celebrities' identities. And I love the satisfaction I get when I'm correct about who is underneath the crazy coverings.

Overall, whatever your preferred self-care vice is, make sure you are taking the time you need to heal, unwind, and listen to your mind and its needs. Just like a stomach growling for food, our brains have ways of teling us when they need attention, too. The past few years have been crazy for all of us and, now more than ever, we need to make mental health a priority. I hope you can use some of these tools (along with journaling, therapy sessions, or prayer, some way to truly feel your feelings and stay in tune with your emotions) to help get yourself back on the right track. Stay healthy, mind body and soul.