It’s time for a lazy day 🛏️

August 2022

Jessica from Health Storylines

< Back to Mental Health

Hello there,

Thank you for continuing to be a part of the Health Storylines community. Modern life can be stressful, there is always so much to get done and so little time to relax and take care of yourself.

On August 10th, we observe the World Day of Laziness. Yes, that’s right, a whole day dedicated to the importance of letting yourself exist without needing to be productive. Rest is important and doing so isn’t a bad thing. Taking time to recharge is important for both your physical and mental well-being.

Now let’s stop thinking about it… it’s time to just be lazy. Take some time to do nothing today in the name of self-care!

When you feel like you’re well-rested again, take some time to check out the “Mental Health” category in the new Health Tool Library to learn about some more tools that can help you better manage your mental health:

Are you ready to break the cycle?

July 2022

Jessica from Health Storylines

< Back to Mental Health

Hi there,

Thank you for continuing to be a part of the Health Storylines community. If you are working to manage your mental health, you may have experienced negative thought patterns at some point on your journey. We wanted to talk to you about negative thought patterns and what it means to break the cycle.

What are negative thought patterns?

Negative thought patterns can also be referred to as cognitive distortions, and can manifest as incorrect assumptions, unrealistic self-criticisms, or even the denial of reality.

Though this may sound serious, and it can be in some situations, they are thought patterns that are very common among individuals who struggle with both anxiety and depression. It is essential to be able to recognize them when they happen.

What can you do to ‘break the cycle’?

If you begin to find yourself overwhelmed by negative thoughts, try to take some time to reflect when you find yourself feeling calmer. Try to challenge your thoughts, this can be difficult and takes some practise, but eventually it will help you learn how to take control of these thought patterns. The Positive Thoughts Diary was made to help you practice this skill and guide you through the process. Add it to your roster of tools by clicking the ‘+’ sign at the bottom of your homepage in your Health Storylines app.

Does being social stress you out?

June 2022

Funmi from Health Storylines

< Back to Mental Health

Hi there,

Are you enjoying the Health Storylines app so far, or want to give us some feedback to help you along your journey better? Please let us know by giving us a quick rating in the app store!

Thank you for continuing to be a part of the Health Storylines community. We all need support sometimes, and reaching out can be the most difficult part, especially if you’re dealing with social anxiety.

If you feel you may be struggling with social anxiety, it is important to speak with someone you trust, like a family member or a friend. If you find yourself avoiding social situations, a trusted support can assist you in finding professional help or talk to your doctor about it.

If you feel like you might be experiencing social anxiety, here are some tips that may help you manage it:

Get Enough Sleep

while it may be difficult to sleep when managing anxiety, sleep is very important for emotional regulation. Lack of sleep can worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Prioritize Your Downtime

chronic stress can quickly lead to burnout. If being around people takes up a lot of your energy, set aside time for self-care and activities that make you feel at ease.

Find Your Comfort Zone

while it may be good to challenge yourself on your journey, it is also important to be aware of your personal limits. For example, you feel you should see your friend for their birthday; perhaps you can meet them for lunch instead of attending a large party.

Anxiety is a natural emotion and was developed to protect us from perceived threats. The challenge is that when anxiety is not controlled, we perceive threats where there may not be any danger. This does not make the feeling any less real; it’s just important to remind yourself that you are safe and worthy of love and support during these times.

Together we can fight stigma.

May 2022

Funmi from Health Storylines

< Back to Mental Health

Hey there,

Thank you for continuing to be a part of the Health Storylines community. This week is a very important week- it is the National Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week. Raising awareness and starting conversations surrounding mental illness can help create community and reduce stigma.

An estimated 264 million people around the world have anxiety disorders and 280 million people are affected by depressive disorders. We would like to know and share with our community how depression or anxiety may have affected you.

Health Storylines is a safe space to talk about and work through how your condition might be affecting you. Let’s take some time to reflect: what does mental health awareness mean to you?

Share Your Experience With Mental Health

Would you be interested in telling us more about how your mental health affects you? We will be selecting 20 users that complete the survey below to win a $20 Amazon gift card:

It’s not just in your head

April 2022

Funmi from Health Storylines

< Back to Mental Health

Hey there,

Thank you for being a part of the Health Storylines community. You know that depression and anxiety have a big impact on your mental health, but did you know that they also have an impact on your physical health? If someone has ever told you “it’s all in your head”, you know they couldn’t be more wrong.

Depression and anxiety don’t just affect your moods, they can also affect your nervous system, digestive system, immune, and cardiovascular systems. Physical symptoms that arise from depression and anxiety can be difficult to manage, but it’s important to note when and how they affect you on your journey.

Though depression and anxiety are mental conditions, the physical symptoms are often overlooked. We encourage you to research on your own and speak to your doctor about how to manage your physical symptoms.

What does taking control of your health even mean?

March 2022

Funmi from Health Storylines

< Back to Mental Health

Hey there,

Thank you for being here. When trying to manage a chronic condition, many factors can make or break your progress. You may even feel demotivated when you feel you don’t have a say in your own care plan. This does not have to be the case.

Over the years, we’ve developed a simple process for you when first learning how to advocate for yourselves.

Taking control of your treatment plan may be daunting for you because you feel you may not feel equipped to speak confidently about your condition to your care providers. That’s okay. A lot of people don’t. Taking charge of your health doesn’t mean you make all your decisions alone. It can mean understanding your tracked data and using that data to start a conversation. Be it with your care provider, or even family members.

In the next week, we’d like to challenge you to experiment and learn one new thing about yourself. This could be as simple as seeing what happens when you take your medication at a consistent time as directed by your doctor. Do you experience a difference in your symptoms? It’s time to track and find out!