May is Mental Health Awareness Month—it also happens to be the perfect time to refocus, reframe and renew. As women, we’re very busy. We're taking care of our kids, our parents, our friends, our households, our work and more. I use a variety of modalities in my practice to help women—and all clients—empower themselves and manage overwhelming thoughts and emotions. Here are four ways you can start on your own.
Add an “and.”
When something goes wrong in our lives, it’s easy to catastrophize. Adding an “and” –something that’s also true—helps you see the bigger picture of things so you can empower yourself to move forward. “I got fired—and I am also still an excellent employee and have a great resume and will find another opportunity that's a better fit.”
Swap “I should” with “I want.”
We probably have a million “I should” moments a day. Learn to prioritize. What’s the most urgent and what can wait? Picking up my kids from school is urgent and critical. Maybe I’ll do a little laundry. Not a chance am I calling the dentist today.
Ask what can I control?
“What if” is an anxiety-driven thought. We can’t control someone else’s decision or the weather, but we can control our reaction. “If I don’t get the job, well, I prepared and presented myself as best I could and it wasn’t meant to be.” Therapy teaches us to not judge our thoughts and to give ourselves permission to do the best we can with what we have.
Reframe the negative.
Maybe you think, “ugh, it’s only Monday.” Try a different approach—think about how much you’ve already accomplished that day, and about what you can look forward to that week. It’s about being kind to yourself while appreciating the potential that each new day offers.
Lynn Zakeri is a licensed social worker and owner of Lynn Zakeri LCSW Clinical Services, PLLC. She and her associates provide mental health therapy for clients virtually and in Northfield/Skokie. Book an appointment at lynnzakeri.com.