THE TURNING POINT: My Mental Health Pt. ll
- Ravi Patel
- Aug 14, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 6
Intro – Manifest Destiny
I’ve had a change of heart recently. Overcoming obstacles faced in my previous blog post about mental health, I am in a situation where I feel as though I’m reaching a turning point. My busy schedule is testing my resolve, but I feel like I’m embracing it. After a long day, I’d be meditating, and it would halt all those thoughts. Meditating reassures me of my worries and brings clarity about who I am and want to be. I keep watching those recommended videos about how you’ve been chosen, how you can find inner peace, get to where you want to be, etc.
I’m in a situation where I am embracing my destiny, building a solid foundation, taking care of myself, and learning new skills complementing my blogging. I believe if I go after photography, I will be great. I believe if I go after marketing, I will be great. I believe if I learn...I will be great. I feel as though my social skills are improving day by day. I feel I can care for myself and embrace those times when I'm alone. How’d I get here? It’s meditation and small challenges I’ve been overcoming. I feel as though I’ve been developing “anti-bodies” to future challenges, and as a result, I believe I can quickly/correctly react, and move forward.
Meditation – Quiet The Mind
On vacation in Gatlinburg, I made my debut as a photographer. In Anakeesta, I took photographs of gorgeous scenery and captured quality images of my family members ziplining. It was a fantastic first day, and when I returned home, I carried my momentum further. However, I still needed a way of shaking off any anxiety of a potential panic attack, and other health issues. If I didn’t find a way I’d be “falling,” and not focusing enough on my newfound passion. I knew deep down these worries weren’t worth my time and energy. Also, searching for answers only caused more anxiety, so I did more meditation and quieted my mind.
There are different meditations I have heard, and they've helped me greatly. I’ve listened to “Soften into Sleep” by Chibs Okereke, and “When It’s Hard to Fall Asleep” by Professor Megan Reitz on the Calm App. I’ve listened to some guided meditations by the Great Meditation channel on YouTube. I can also silently meditate with a sound machine running in the background and even have it running while I sleep. Notable, this sound machine makes a familiar/satisfying air conditioner sound. Meditation has reassured me I’m making good decisions with my mental health, and as a result, these resources have helped me get a good night of sleep and alleviate any fears keeping me from my goals.
The Keys
Set Aside Time (Min: 15-20Min)
Get Comfortable (Good Posture)
It’s even okay to lay in bed.
Letting Go – Meditation
Deep Sleep + Connecting with Higher Self – Meditation
Inner Peace – Meditation
No Alcohol – No Worries
I decided I would be taking a break from drinking alcohol. I had gotten more skeptical of drinking since I would feel anxious a day later, and become very alert to any discomfort. As a result, of this discomfort, I would become worried about a panic attack and even have irrational thoughts about having heart issues. However, even though I had decided I wouldn't be drinking for a while it didn't mean I couldn't enjoy a social gathering with my friends.
I received an invite from Adi for Sneham’s birthday dinner at Teak OTR. I was relaxed, chatting with friends, eating great food, and experiencing great vibes. Afterward, we’d all go out and I would drink non-alcoholic beverages like a Shirley Temple, and feel great. I knew if I experienced certain symptoms of drinking, I could potentially feel panicked, so I felt confident in my decision to abstain from alcohol. It was also reassuring knowing a few of my friends weren't drinking, and so I didn't feel alone. Later, we all went to Pins Mechanical Co. and played classic arcade games. We also caught up with more friends before saying our goodbyes. This night allowed me to take my mind off things and reenergize myself for the summer grind ahead.
The Keys
Reminder: Your presence is appreciated regardless of whether you drink or not.
Other Beverages (Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Soda, Water, etc.)
Find a sober buddy.
Your health comes first!
Reminder: “A decision may not be wrong, but it can still be unwise."
Therapy – Embrace It
I took therapy more seriously after I had my first panic attack a few months ago. I have now been doing therapy consistently for 3 months. My current therapist is a good person and someone I can trust will help guide me through my mental health struggles. However, I didn't always feel I could talk to a therapist. I didn't feel comfortable sharing my feelings with my previous therapist. So, I changed therapists hoping I would open up more. Eventually, it ended up paying off and I feel much better now. I’ll be honest it took a while to talk about what was troubling me, but once I found the right person to speak to about it, I didn't look back.
My therapist encouraged me to delve into meditation. She’s the individual who recommended I make a list of what I achieved each day and acknowledge the improvements I’m making. This person also acknowledged the great things I'm doing on this platform, and how brave I am for discussing my struggles. My biggest takeaway from doing therapy is even if I’m still not where I want to be I am, however far from where I used to be. So, any changes I've made I know it'll be worth it, and so now I embrace those changes and become the person I want to be. The person I want to be, I wholeheartedly believe can do anything.
The Keys
You’re not the only one.
You don’t have to share everything.
Your first therapist isn't always the best.
Show Up Consistently.
Have Realistic Expectations.
Be Honest.
Outro
If you’ve made it this far thank you for reading! This post is meant to dive deeper into my mental health journey and be a continuation of my first mental health blog post. I had writer's block for about two months, and it finally clicked why don’t I make a sequel to one of the more praised blog posts on this website? If you're going through something, and on a similar journey like me, I hope this post serves as another inspiration to keep going after what you want no matter the challenges. Additionally, stay tuned for more amazing content in the future!
Marketing
Links
This made me tear up in the best way. This was brilliantly done, Ravi! And I’m so proud of you!
Love this, my favorite post so far!
Proud of you bro!