Life is challenging: we have to deal with the pressures of school and work (or
the lack of work) and issues around family, friends, drugs, alcohol and
sex. With all the tough stuff getting thrown our way, our emotions aren't
always stable and we have our ups and downs. But we're not alone in
this experience-everyone gets sick, feels low once in a while or has
moments of self-doubt. Sometimes all we need are a few simple coping strategies
to manage our emotional forecast.
Being aware of your mental state as you start your day can make a huge difference.
Ask yourself how you're feeling and try to anticipate how the day
will unfold. Embrace your good days and try to enjoy every moment. Keep
these positive memories stored in your brain for the bad days; if you wake
up feeling less than amazing on a particular morning, take a few seconds
to remember the great trip you took last summer or the last time someone
did something nice for you. Doing a fun or special activity, like meeting
a friend for coffee, can also transform your mood.
Not all crappy days fade away, however, and we sometimes fall into depression. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), clinical depression affects 32,000 BC youth aged 14 to 19. Sarah Hamid-Balma, of the CHMA, BC Division, says the symptoms of clinical depression are: "Major changes in sleep patterns, weight loss or gain, lethargy (no energy) or restlessness, difficulty in concentrating, feelings of worthlessness, guilt and shame, suicidal thoughts and a rise in drug and alcohol consumption." If you're experiencing five or more of these symptoms for longer than a two-week period you should see a doctor.
More severe cases of depression require professional assistance. Although it's tempting to avoid the problem, it's always better to have it professionally addressed. And remember, there's nothing wrong with asking for help. "You increase the risk of having more frequent bouts of depression if the issue isn't properly dealt with," Sarah says.
For more info on depression or mental health, visit the CMHA's BC Web site at www.cmha-bc.org. If you're dealing with other life issues and need to talk, call the Kids Help Phone toll-free at 1-800-668-6868, or speak to a health practitioner in your community.
Having
a bad day? Don't feel like getting out of bed? Try these coping strategies to shift your mood:
Exercise
Take a moment to recognize what you've done
Think about all the people who care about you
Remember that tomorrow will be a better day
Listen to music that makes you feel good
Eat a healthy treat and watch a comedy
Talk to a friend
Have a hot bath
Do something nice for someone else
Do something just for you
If your favourite chocolate bar was in front of
you, could you resist taking a bite for five minutes, in exchange for the
whole bar?
If you said yes, you probably possess high emotional intelligence. This
unique measure of brainpower focuses on people's ability to manage
their own emotions (intrapersonal), understand and handle others'
emotions (interpersonal), deal with stress, adapt to situations and control
impulses, like resisting the chocolate bar. Emotional intelligence allows
people to experience feelings such as fear or frustration and turn them
into positive behaviours, like going for a run to burn off a bad mood. Unlike
a person's Intelligence Quotient (IQ, another way to measure intelligence)
which some experts say can't be changed, emotional intelligence improves
with age and people are capable of becoming more emotionally intelligent
by getting in tune with their emotions, finding ways to de-stress and being
more sensitive to the needs of others. Take this quiz to discover where
you're at with your emotional intelligence.
