Using Another's Struggles as Mental Health Motivation
By Brandi Goodman
Mental health struggles are not easy to handle. However, knowing someone else who struggles and seeing them accomplish their goals can be great motivation. Using someone else's struggles to motivate your own health journey can help you stay on the right track. You'll see how far they've come and do your best to mimic what they've done to get there.
Join a Support Group
Support groups exist for a number of illnesses, ailments, and struggles. People who struggle with mental health can find a support group that allows them to share their stories and listen to those of others. You may find motivation in what others share. If other people with similar plights are doing well, you may want to try harder to also do as well. Many people find that these groups offer encouragement.
Follow a Mental Health Blog
Lots of bloggers share stories about their mental health. If you follow their posts and learn more about them, it can motivate you to do better for yourself. They may offer tips on staying sane at work or in social settings. Perhaps they'll have advice for making new friends so you can socialize with others and experience new and fun things. Find some favorites and allow them to guide you in your own journey.
Surround Yourself With People Who Listen
You don't have to talk to strangers to get support. Surround yourself with the friends or family who listen to you and encourage you. You may find the determination to get your struggles under control if you're around others who want to help you succeed. Go out of your comfort zone and go places with them. Try something new. Socializing can be a great way to boost mood and eliminate stress that often causes poor mental health.
Set Your Own Goals
Mimicking what another person does may work well in some instances, but you still need to tailor your goals to your own needs. If someone from your support group joined a cycling class to improve mood and lose weight, it doesn't meant you have to join the same class to get the same results. You should find something similar but that you enjoy to make the goals beneficial for you. Perhaps you would go outside for walks alone to get your exercise time instead or join a water aerobics class if you enjoy swimming over cycling.
Finding the motivation to get the help you need is a huge goal for many. Use others as your inspiration and watch your mental health transform. You can follow blogs, join a support group, or simply surround yourself with friends and family who are there for you. It won't come easy, but staying in touch with others and not allowing yourself to be alone can help tremendously.
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