It’s easy to feel isolated and burned out when you’re trying to manage mental and emotional health conditions. What might help is knowing where to turn when you want to add to your motivation and having the confidence to trust people who understand and provide a bridge of connection.
The Motivation to Stay Well
The pursuit of better health and the toll it takes sometimes isn’t limited to individuals with mental or emotional disorders. People who deal with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and others frequently become overwhelmed and fatigued managing their care. For example, the Centers for Disease Control have identified people who feel this way with diabetes as having “diabetes distress.”
Disease distress often has to do with keeping up with the daily demands of your condition, as well as special considerations, proper medication management, and other factors. And let’s face it—some days might also be shrouded by a heavy “Why me?” component, especially if you don’t feel properly heard and supported by others.
The primary motivation to stay healthy comes from within and is often tied to what psychologists call “an internal locus of control”—which refers to your perspective on various outcomes in your life. Mental health professionals define it this way:
- Having an internal locus of control means you have the point of view that your actions determine various outcomes in your life.
- With an external locus of control, you believe that what happens to you happens because of fate, happenstance, or luck.
We’ve all had times when certain things happened that we couldn’t have predicted, made us victims of circumstance, or proved to be disappointing regardless of our efforts. Some people feel this way about their health concerns—after all, no one asks to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, or cancer, but they often have to deal with those and other serious issues anyway.
So, the motivation to create an intention for the best health possible is linked to what we learn about ourselves, what methods we follow, and how we shift our perspective to what’s truly in our control, including asking the right people for help.
Finding the Support You Need for Mental Health Conditions
You’re probably already familiar with some of the basic tenets of better self-management of your condition, such as:
- Choose a whole-foods diet, knowing that essential vitamins and minerals reinforce wellness.
- Make a habit of exercise, self-care, and stress-relieving techniques to provide balance in your life.
- Continue to strive for effective medical care and, if necessary, follow a well-managed medication treatment designed specifically for your needs.
All of these aspects of health management put you in the proverbial driver’s seat of handling your condition with focus and compassion.
Another important avenue includes tapping into support groups and other programs that help you foster a sense of community with people who understand what you’re going through. Let’s review a few options.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
When you need to write out what you’re dealing with and engage with other people, this forum can be a safe space.
A strong link to resources for LGBTQAI+ youth, adults, and seniors that includes peer-supported chat platforms and various helplines, such as the national hotline of 888-843-4564.
With a strong peer support program and numerous resource outlets, including a community chat platform and interactive tools, MHA creates many pathways for connection.
For survivors of emotional and sexual abuse or sexual assault, this site lists numerous support chats and hotlines.
National Alliance for Eating Disorders
Although local face-to-face support groups are limited, the virtual sessions offer connections for adult LGBTQAI+ pro recovery, adult pro recovery, and family and friends.
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Spearheads many efforts across the country for broader awareness, support, and education for both individuals and their loved ones. Review the site to find various helplines, local and virtual support groups, family programs, and more.
A lifeline for veterans and active military members trying to manage PTSD, there are virtual groups and a crisis helpline: 877-717-PTSD.
Dedicated to the BIPOC community by “supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color”, there’s a crisis text line (Text STEVE to 741741) and expansive knowledge center.
For more immediate crises, such as domestic abuse, rape, and other tragedies, this site provides a full list of hotlines.
Designed to provide Native and indigenous youth with assistance resources as well as coping skills for managing a wide range of mental health challenges and strategies for building resilience.
Connects veterans, their families, and their concerned friends with a live person 24/7. Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline number of 988, then press 1 for veterans’ assistance.
Cottonwood Tucson: A Place for Healing
There’s no need to manage your health alone. If you need better solutions and unwavering support that guides you toward real progress, our board-certified professionals in Tucson are ready to help.
