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    Benefits of a Mental Health Day from Work or School

    July 21, 2021

    We’ve all had those days when the alarm goes off and we lie in bed, feeling depleted of our energy, and maybe even our good mood. We think to ourselves, “I’m not really sick, but I just need a break from real life today.” While taking a sick day is common when you are feeling […]

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    Benefits of a Mental Health Day from Work or School

    July 21, 2021

    We’ve all had those days when the alarm goes off and we lie in bed, feeling depleted of our energy, and maybe even our good mood. We think to ourselves, “I’m not really sick, but I just need a break from real life today.” While taking a sick day is common when you are feeling physically unwell, what’s not as common – but perhaps should be – is taking a mental health day when you are feeling mentally and emotionally unwell.

    Now many, if not most, companies do offer their employees personal days with no questions asked. But many people save these days for what seems like real-life emergencies. They feel guilty if they use one of these days to simply rest and relax their mind.

    The truth is, taking a mental health day from work or school can be extremely important for your overall well-being. It can help you avoid burnout, improve your mood, help you get some much-needed rest, and rejuvenate you so you can tackle “real life” once again.

    Signs It’s Time for a Mental Health Day

    So how do you know when you are really in need of a mental health day and when you’re just feeling a bit lazy and unmotivated?

    Stress

    You’ve been feeling overwhelmed and irritable.

    You Just Feel… Off

    Sometimes we don’t feel like ourselves, but we can’t quite put our finger on what’s wrong. We know we feel anxious and like the world is a bit too much. This is a sure sign you need a break.

    Getting Sick More Often

    Are you dealing with a cold that “just won’t go away?” When we are stressed, our immune systems become compromised, and it’s harder for us to fight off the common cold.

    The bottom line is you should never feel guilty for taking some time for your mental health. I encourage you to take a mental health day every once in a while. Sometimes it’s the absolute best thing we can do for ourselves.

    And if you find a mental health day didn’t quite do the trick, you may have more going on in your life that requires more hands-on treatment. If you like the idea of speaking with someone about whatever is bothering you, please get in touch with me so we can discuss treatment options.

    SOURCES:

    • https://aaptiv.com/magazine/take-mental-health-day
    • https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-taking-a-mental-health-day-actually-good-for-you/
    • https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/how-to-take-a-mental-health-day

    Filed Under: Anxiety, Depression, General

    The Truth About Perfectionism

    June 30, 2021

    We live in a society that values things that appear perfect. And I suppose there are things that can be perfect. Architects can draw the perfect straight line, mathematicians can solve an equation with a perfect calculation, and a chocolate cake can be perfectly moist. But as human beings, we can never reach a state […]

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    The Truth About Perfectionism

    June 30, 2021

    We live in a society that values things that appear perfect. And I suppose there are things that can be perfect. Architects can draw the perfect straight line, mathematicians can solve an equation with a perfect calculation, and a chocolate cake can be perfectly moist.

    But as human beings, we can never reach a state of perfection because we will always be a work in progress. Perfection indicates a finality – a finished product – but we as humans are always growing and changing.

    What is Perfectionism?

    Many people view perfectionism as a positive attribute. They believe the more “perfect” they are, the more success they will have in life.

    Perfectionism is NOT the same thing as always doing your best. It is important that we always do our best. By doing so, we can experience healthy achievements and growth. But perfectionism takes this concept to the extreme.

    People with perfectionist tendencies often have self-defeating thoughts and/or behaviors that actually make it HARDER to achieve their goals. Perfectionism also can make the individual feel stress, anxiety, and depression.

    Signs to Look For

    Most human beings, from time to time, will strive for perfectionism in some aspect of their life. As an example, that “perfectly moist chocolate cake” I mentioned earlier got that way because the person who baked it was trying to get everything JUST RIGHT as a gift for someone’s birthday.

    But there are those people who are “full-time” perfectionists. They strive for perfection in all aspects of their life.

    Here are some signs you may be a perfectionist:

    • You don’t like to attempt tasks or activities unless you feel you can complete them perfectly.
    • You are end-oriented, meaning you focus little on the process of creating or learning something and put all of the emphasis on the outcome.
    • You cannot see a task as having been completed unless it meets your perfectionist standards.
    • You tend to procrastinate because you don’t like starting a task until you know you can perfectly complete it.
    • You tend to take far longer completing tasks than others. This can be problematic at work.

    Getting Help

    Again, perfectionism is not the same thing as doing your best. It is a condition whereby the individual is almost incapable of feeling joy or pride at what they accomplish because in their own minds, they are never quite good enough.

    If you believe you may have traits of perfectionism and it is causing you stress, there are things you can do to change your behavior so you can live a healthier and happier life.
    If you’d like to explore treatment options, please reach out to me.

    SOURCES:

    • https://cogbtherapy.com/cbt-blog/2014/7/9/stop-perfectionism-be-happy-with-good-enough
    • https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/perfectionism/overcome
    • https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/perfectionism

    Filed Under: Anxiety, Depression

    1297 Professional Drive Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

    (843) 448-4820
    843 448 9875
    [email protected]

    Coastal Samaritan Counseling Center, Inc
    [email protected] | (843) 448-4820 | 843 448 9875

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