One of the most difficult things I have learned through my battle with mental illness is to be positive. Positive thinking has helped me challenge my negative thinking and living a more balanced life.
I am sure this is because my thoughts generally are negative. They are more of the “woe is me”, “how could this be happening to me”, “why me” category. I am always the victim, whether I know I am saying those thoughts to myself or not. Often times, I will not catch myself as i sink into negative thinking. It is almost habitual. Yet, what I have learned through life coaching and reading Self-Help books is that being positive can actually change one’s brain chemistry. Happiness and positivity release brain chemicals that aid in the repair of damaged neurons from mental illness. Being positive decreases cortisol and produces serotonin, the brain’s chemical for fighting stress.
How can I be more positive? I can turn each thought around and focus on what is good in my life, allowing my psyche to process only those thoughts that serve me the best. Positive thinking for the mentally ill is a challenge; negative thinking is pervasive and needs to be defeated. Turning thinking around, focusing on the positive aspects of life, and turning those positive thoughts into action are the necessary steps to living a more balanced life.
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