My Mental Health Journey
When I was growing up, I had the best childhood. I wouldn’t change a single thing. I was that always-happy girl, who loved sports and was carefree. This continued till I reached year 12 at school, and started taking school and exams more seriously.
The pressure I put on myself to do well in my final year led to this feeling of anxiousness that I had never experienced before. With this came sleepless nights, doubts in all the relationships in my life and a lot of other self-esteem issues.
After school, I started modelling and this is when my anxiety began to worsen. I had entered a whole new ball game when it came to comparison. My mum always tells me “Comparison is the thief of dreams” and this couldn’t be truer. At this time, I had no remedies to deal with the way I was feeling. I also didn’t know if it was normal, so I never vocalised this to anyone.
As my career continued, social media became a bigger part of my job. This is when my anxiety really became unmanageable. I remember weeks on end where I would get a maximum of four hours sleep per night because my heart would be racing at soon as my head hit the pillow. It was at this point I considered seeing the doctor to prescribe me some anxiety medication, I wanted a quick fix to the way I was feeling. I understand that this medication can be life changing to some, but I have also heard other stories that show it being quite addictive and difficult to get off. I decided that I would delve into natural remedies before I made the decision to get onto medication or not.
I wanted to share my journey, and to let you know that you are not alone and there are natural ways to calm the mind.
1. Get Moving
When I wake up and get moving in the morning, I really notice the positive effects on my anxiety levels. This is my main motivation every morning to wake up early before work and to get it done. Whether it is sweaty circuit session, or a walk down to the beach, moving your body first thing in the morning has so many mental and physical benefits for you. This has been a life-changing habit for me.
2. Meditate
This year I completed a meditation course at the Bondi Meditation Centre, and I couldn’t recommend it more. I have always wanted to meditate, but wasn’t able to stick to it when I tried using various apps. Since completing this course, meditation has become part of my daily routine and I have been a much calmer and happier person since.
3. Breathe
This is simple, yet when you suffer with anxiety its almost as if you forget how to breathe. Every morning after I meditate, I take five big belly breathes and this leaves me feeling instantly calmer. If my anxiety does flare up during the day or evening, I will again practice this breathing technique. Deep inhales and exhales give me instant relief.
4. Stop drinking coffee
Two years ago, I made the difficult decision to stop drinking coffee. I loved my morning coffee more than anyone, but I had heard that it really triggers anxiety. After the first day of cutting coffee out of my diet, I slept a lot better and this instant benefit made it easy for me to stick to this new habit. On the odd occasion, I will have a decaf because I love the taste. I now enjoy a matcha latte most mornings as the caffeine release is slow and energising, unlike coffee which used to give me the jitters.
5. Acupuncture
I have just started to include acupuncture into my healing process, and I have been blown away by its power. I visited the Health Space Clinic in Randwick and saw Isabella. I told Isabella about my journey with anxiety, and she followed by checking my pulse. She could tell instantly that I was an anxious person. Isabella informed me of a few other remedies such as eating more cooked food instead of raw to help calm my body. Since I have started acupuncture and followed her advice, I have slept the best I EVER have, been less anxious, and my digestion has improved.
I am not a medical professional, but from my own experience, making these changes has made me feel like the best version of myself. I hope this encourages you to invest in your mental health and to take action if you suffer with anxiety or any other mental disorder.