Knowing Your Baseline
Last month, I wrote about the power of noticing. Letting someone know that you
have noticed changes in their mood or behavior can be a lifesaving act.
But how do you notice changes in your own mood or behavior? You need to know your baseline. What does it feel like to be you when you’re feeling well? What does it feel like when things feel in balance, you’re doing your job well, your
relationships are going well, in other words, when you feel “happy”?
The reality is that this baseline is different for each of us. No one can tell me what it feels like to be myself; only I can determine when my body and my mind are in optimal condition.
We all know what it feels like when “a cold is coming on” or we’re “coming down
with a bug.” We can sense that things are not right and, if we catch it early enough, we might be able to avert some of the worst symptoms of that cold or flu.
The same is true for serious physical conditions. Early detection and treatment are key to ensuring good outcomes from diagnoses such as cancer or diabetes. To ensure this, however, you need to see your primary care physician regularly. You also need to be aware of changes in your body’s performance, no matter how slight they may seem. Trust your body and get yourself checked.
The same is true for your mental health. Know your baseline mood: what does it
feel like when you’re functioning well? If you’re an introvert like me, you most
likely feel better when social interaction is limited and more anxious when asked to interact outside your comfort zone.
If you’re somebody who normally has no trouble getting up in the morning, take
note of those days when you can’t bring yourself to get out of bed. You might be
physically unwell, but you could also be seeing the initial signs of a depressive
phase. If it lasts for more than a week or two, seek out a mental health professional.
Even better, see your REGULAR mental health professional.
Regular check-ups with a counselor are just as vital to saving your life as seeing
your medical doctor. In the course of our work as Mental Health Awareness
Trainers at the Center for Human Services, my colleague Rose Addo and I, make it a point to recommend regular, ongoing therapy with the same therapist. Even if
you only see them once a month, they can observe changes in your mood or
behavior that you or your family might not be able to pick up on.
Even when I’m feeling great, a monthly check-in with my therapist is an essential
part of my self-care. I hope you will consider doing it, too.
Published in the April issue of Healthy Cells-Bloomington/Normal.