How to Take An Effective Mental Health Day 

May 31, 2023

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to overlook the importance of taking care of your mental health. You might prioritize professional and personal responsibilities, while neglecting the need to pause and recharge. Taking a mental health day can be incredibly beneficial, especially when combined with somatic therapy, which offers a unique and holistic approach to achieving balance, anxiety relief, stress relief, and healing past traumas.

Stick with me for a few minutes and gauge how these 10 signs that you may need a mental health day resonate with you. We’ll also discuss the benefits of somatic therapy and how this holistic counseling approach can help you find long-lasting relief.

Consistently Low Mood

Sign

You find yourself frequently feeling down or irritable, without someone or something causing these feelings. Stress, burnout, and unresolved conflicts can contribute to a consistently low mood. Ignoring these feelings and pushing through your daily responsibilities can lead to decreased functioning and negatively impact social interactions.

Somatic Therapy for Mood Improvement

Somatic therapy can help improve your mood by addressing the root causes of your emotional imbalances. This trauma therapy focuses on the connection between the mind and body, utilizing techniques like somatic breathwork to promote relaxation and rebalance your emotions.

Loss of Focus or Motivation

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A sudden loss of motivation or the inability to concentrate on tasks can indicate that it’s time for a mental health break. Racing thoughts, careless errors, and difficulty managing your workload are all signs that you need to step back and recharge.

Somatic Therapy for Increased Focus

Somatic healing can help you regain focus and motivation by addressing the underlying stressors and imbalances in your body and mind. Somatic therapists use various techniques, including somatic movements and body awareness exercises, to help you develop greater mental clarity and increase your capacity to concentrate.

Disconnection from Hobbies and Interests

Sign

You no longer care to whittle, paint, design, play games, etc. You interest in activities that once brought you joy, has disappeared. Overwork and overwhelm can cause you to lose touch with the things that make you happy, ultimately affecting your productivity and pride in your work.

Reconnecting with Interests

Somatic therapy can help you reconnect with your hobbies and interests by promoting self-awareness and emotional healing. Through somatic healing practices, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your emotional state and learn how to prioritize self-care and personal fulfillment.

Feeling Disconnected from Others

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Feeling isolated or disconnected from the people in your life can be a sign that you need a mental health day. Consistently overworking and neglecting personal relationships can lead to emotional distress, which may be alleviated by taking time off to focus on you.

Strengthening Connections

Somatic therapy can help strengthen your connections with others by fostering emotional awareness and promoting healthy communication skills. This holistic counseling approach encourages you to explore your emotions, identify patterns, and develop strategies for improving your interpersonal relationships.

Physical Symptoms of Stress

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If you’re experiencing physical symptoms such as fatigue, frequent headaches, or a weakened immune system, it’s time to take a breather. These symptoms can indicate that your body is struggling to cope with stress and is longing for rest and rejuvenation.

Somatic Therapy for Stress Relief

Somatic work can help alleviate physical symptoms of stress by addressing the mind-body connection and promoting relaxation. Techniques like somatic breathwork and body awareness exercises can help you release tension, improve sleep, and support overall physical health.

Decreased Work Quality

Sign

The quality of your work is on a steady decline or enthusiasm for your job has faded significantly. Overworking without setting healthy boundaries can lead to unmanageable stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact your performance and job satisfaction.

Somatic Therapy for Improved Work Performance

Somatic therapy can help you regain enthusiasm for your job and improve your work performance by addressing underlying stressors and emotional imbalances. Through somatic healing techniques, you’ll learn to manage stress more effectively and approach your work with renewed energy and focus.

Frequent Illness

Sign

If you find yourself frequently getting sick or experiencing chronic health issues, it may be a sign that you need a mental health day. A weakened immune system can be a result of chronic stress, which can be alleviated by taking time off to rest and heal.

Immune System Support

Somatic therapy can help support your immune system by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and fostering overall well-being. Techniques such as somatic breathwork and body awareness exercises can help you develop healthy coping mechanisms, ultimately strengthening your body’s ability to fight off illness.

Difficulty Sleeping

Sign

Struggling to fall asleep, then once you do, you wake up in the middle of the night. Sleep disturbances can be a result of anxiety, stress, and unresolved emotional distress, which can be addressed through self-care and therapeutic interventions.

Therapy for Improved Sleep

Somatic therapy can help improve your sleep by promoting relaxation and addressing the root causes of your sleep disturbances. Through somatic healing practices, you’ll learn to manage stress more effectively and develop healthy sleep habits, ultimately improving your daily functioning.

Increased Anxiety

Sign

Heightened anxiety, persistent worry, or “feeling on edge” are telling signs to press pause. These feelings can be a result of stress, burnout, or unresolved emotional issues. Taking time off to focus on you is one of the best ways to relieve these feelings.

Somatic Therapy for Anxiety Relief

Somatic therapy offers a unique approach to anxiety relief by addressing the mind-body connection and promoting emotional healing. Techniques that encourage getting attuned and in-tune with your mind and body can help you develop greater self-awareness and learn to manage anxiety more effectively.

Difficulty Coping with Daily Challenges

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It’s becoming harder and harder to be polite to the co-worker who constantly needs help, your partner annoying you, or the kids seem more clingy than usual.  Taking time for yourself to reset and focus on healing can be essential to increase your ability to manage the many moving parts in your life and improve overall well-being.

Therapy for Trauma Healing

Somatic therapy is a powerful tool for healing from trauma and growing your tolerance for life’s trials and tribulations. This trauma therapy focuses on getting to the root cause of your frustrations and rebuilds your self-efficiency and reliance.

Seeking a Knowledgeable Practitioner for Therapy

Technically if you can relate to any one of the above, it is time for you to look towards a trained practitioner who can sharpen your tools for coping. I challenge you to engage in your present moment and recognize if any of these signs happen to you.

While it’s not essential to seek the help of a knowledgeable therapist or coach who can guide you through the healing process, partnering with a skilled practitioner can help you achieve your goals quicker. predictable life.

Remember, taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. By embracing somatic therapy and prioritizing self-care, whether for finding balance, anxiety relief, stress relief, or trauma healing, you can achieve a calmer more fulfilled life.