How to Stay Positive and Track Your Mental Health Journey
Use your ruler, not one belonging to someone else.
Hi there!
It's tough not to compare yourself to others.
We all do it. It's part of human nature. But with mental health, comparing ourselves to others can be downright dangerous. That's because mental illness manifests itself in different ways for everyone.
Even if you're on the same path, you'll experience the journey differently than someone else.
I learned this the hard way.
“Don't measure your progress using someone else's ruler.”
- Unknown
Scott Ninneman also publishes the free All Things Bipolar Newsletter (off Substack). The Sunday email features the newest content about bipolar life.
Comparing Myself
When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I tried to measure my progress using other people's standards.
If they were doing better than me, then I was too weak. I imagined the glimpses I saw of their life proved they were conquering their mental illness while I still felt broken inside.
When I went through a period of months where I couldn't work, it was even worse.
Other people with bipolar disorder were working. Why couldn't I?
Part of me already felt like a failure for having a mental illness. Not being able to work when others could was devastating. I was full of false beliefs.
But that's not how mental illness works.
Just because someone else appears to be doing better than you doesn't mean you're not making progress. If others seem to have more productive days or harder jobs, it really has no bearing on you. That's their journey, not yours.
The Measurement that Matters
The only way to gauge your progress is by tracking it yourself.
Here are some ways to monitor your growth.
Keep a journal. Write down how you're feeling every day, or at least a few times a week. This will help you track your moods and behaviors over time.
Talk to your therapist or mental health professional regularly. They can help you identify patterns and monitor your progress.
Set goals for yourself and celebrate when you reach them. This could be something as simple as taking a shower every day or going for a walk around the block. If your only win for the day is taking your meds and continuing to live, that's a win. Celebrate it.
Talk to your friends and family. They can provide support and encouragement, and they may also help you identify when you're slipping backwards.
Your Journey is Unique
Mental illness is unique to each person.
So don't compare your progress to someone else's. Just focus on taking things one day at a time. Remember that even tiny steps can lead to big changes.
Small changes add up.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see gigantic leaps in your mental health journey. Just focus on taking little steps each day and trust that you’re making progress—even if it doesn’t always feel like it.
Every day you keep fighting, you’re making progress. And that’s all that really matters.
What are some ways that you track your mental health journey? Share in the comments below.
Write It Out
Take some time to think about your progress with these writing prompts.
Journal Prompt: How do you judge your progress? Do you base it on where you were or where other people are now? If you see room for improvement, how can you view things from a better perspective?
Creative Writing Prompt: Write a story about a lone giant in a land of average-sized people. How does their size affect them? Do they find happiness even though they're different?
Until next time, keep fighting.
Scott Ninneman
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