Why Wellness Is a Choice

With time, I learned that managing the symptoms of depression and anxiety requires active—not passive or reactive—decision-making to move toward better mental health.

Accepting Responsibility for Mental Health Treatment

Years ago, I was on a conference call with folks from DBSA Tennessee giving my talk “Unlocking Wellness Within.” After my talk, we opened up the lines for questions and comments from those listening on the conference call.

One of the listeners shared this comment: “Carol, you said something I struggle to accept…”

“Wellness doesn’t happen on its own and we have to DO SOMETHING to have it.”

I know she is not the only person who struggles with this. In fact, this principle was one of the biggest components of the treatment program I used to run. It is also what I live by!

Wellness Requires Action

We have to take ACTION every day in order to have wellness be present in our lives.

Unfortunately, many people still think if they “just take a pill,” they are doing something. This is usually not enough when it comes to depression and anxiety.

Because the symptoms themselves work against us, we cannot wait for medication to start working—we must push ourselves to take ACTION.

This is why I titled this blog as I did: Wellness is a choice.

Choosing Better Health

Every day we wake up, there are two directions our day ahead can go: one is towards WELLNESS, the other toward ILLNESS.

It requires we wake up every day and choose, because if we don’t, the symptoms will choose for us!

Now, what’s important for everyone to understand is ACTIONS don’t have to be big in order to start working.

Takes a look at the following small steps we can take to improve our mental health.

Small Wellness Actions

• Get out of bed and go lie on the couch or sit on the lounge chair.
• Get dressed—don’t stay in pajamas all day.
• Eat a little bit of something even if you’re not hungry.
• Send a text message when you don’t feel like talking.
• If you cancel an appointment, reschedule it right away.
• Stand by a window and look outside.
• Set a timer for 2 minutes and do a house chore until the timer goes off.

As you can see, ANY ACTION is going to move us in the direction of wellness! It is INACTION that will have us moving in the opposite direction, toward illness….

Choose wellness today!

~ To Living Well TODAY! ~