Why Investing in Your Mental Health Is the Best Gift You Can Give Yourself

A Message from the Owner - April 2024

This month I wanted to share with you the importance of investing in you mental health.

You see most of our physical issues stem from mental stress and anxiety.

We play these scenarios in our mind and our body takes it as a real life situation, turning on the fight or flight response.

Example: You're in the shower enjoying the warm water and start to imaging your day. You then think about the traffic on the road to where you are going and it triggers a memory of when yo were in a car accident and then you start to imagine getting struck by a car again and going to the hospital to find out you are now paralized and wheel chair bound needing support and no longer able to care for you family. The feeling of worry and fear overwhelm you..... all the while you are still in the shower and nothing has happened.

Now because your mind was so focused on this story you were telling yourself, your body begins to react to it as if it were really happening!

Your hear races, your breathing shortens, your blood pressure goes up and your muscles tighten. Over time this can lead to trouble sleeping, high blood pressure, headaches, stomach ulcers, digestion issues, loss of sleep, stress on the heart and may trigger different diseases.

Ahhhhhhh........ why do we do this to ourselves?

Well you are not alone and its not uncommon. In fact we all go through this! The difference is how fast we catch ourselves and not let the story take hold of our emotions.

When we do this we not only prevent physical stress and disease, we also can prevent overreacting, relationship stress, work stress and more.

How do we do put the brakes on these thoughts as they are happening?

The simplest way is to literally take 5 or more deep breaths. But as you do, pay attention to the natural pause at the top of the breath and the natural pause at the bottom of the breath.

As you observe the pause you naturally create space between the thoughts.

Though you only hold that awareness for just a brief moment it can do wonders for your mental and physical health and your body will crave it.

I taught my 11yrs old son who is autistic to do this when he was 4.5yrs old! So no excuses!

So give it a try the next time the monkey mind takes over! You could be saving your body, mind and relationships.

Wishing you a blessed month full of pure awareness!

Big Bear Hug, Linda Osorio LMT/RYT

PS Here is a great affirmation for you this month:

When I watch my breath, I let go of what doesn't serve me.