As much as you may feel pressured not to, you can take a break and take some time to yourself whenever you need.
We all need a break in life
In my life, I’ve been pressured to do more things than I will ever remember. I’ve even consistently pushed myself to give up sleep to fulfill “obligations”. I have a feeling anyone reading this can say the same.
I’ve skipped out on things that would bring me joy in order to take care of something for someone else more times than I can count.
And while I do get joy from helping out others, it still can take a toll, and leave me needing some rest.
It leaves me ⏤ much like everyone else ⏤ in need of a break from that stress.
Breaks are not failures
I’ve heard many people put down taking a break or taking time to get yourself right. There’s this mentality, and I don’t know exactly where it comes from, that how we show strength is how much struggle we can take and keep chugging along.
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but that’s a horrible way to live.
Because if you’re constantly bottoming yourself out, you really have no idea how strong you can really be.
You’re only using the muscles you need to simply hold on. You’re not building the ones strong enough to propel you forward.
More OBserver mental health posts (column continues below)
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Mental Health Moment: You ARE enough
Despite the blemishes, inadequacies and general “just not right” feeling advertisements try to instill in us, I want you to know that you are enough,
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Mental Health Moment: You CAN choose how you spend your time
I want to tell you something that you might not have heard for a while: You have every right to choose how you spend your
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Mental Health Moment: You CAN follow through
I’ll be completely honest with you guys, most days the thought that repeats in my head is, “I don’t want to do this.” However, every
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Inside the Mind: ‘Where have you been?’
KENOSHA ⏤ It has been a long time since I’ve let you inside my mind, my friends. For that, I do sincerely apologize. However, I’d
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Make Music Day begins at Kenosha Creative Space
KENOSHA— Today, June 21, is the first-ever Make Music Day in Kenosha at Kenosha Creative Space. The day will be filled with music from workshops
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Kenosha Police Chief Miskinis to retire at end of April
Police chief sent email to city department heads Thursday informing them KENOSHA ⏤ Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis will retire at the end of April.
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Mental Health Moment: Let go of enemies, embrace critics
Today, I’m encouraging you to do something that most people would flat out refuse to do: I encourage you to wish your enemy/enemies well. Now,
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In the Crowd: Lumphead, Roaming Bear and Codes within Codes
Kenosha Creative Space hosted the talents of three local bands Saturday night: Lumphead (Brittany Lumley), Roaming Bear and Codes within Codes (Cody Cummings). I had
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Along the Path: Perspective is key
When I reflect on how I used to talk about sobriety and how I think of it now, I return to a thought: Perspective is
Find your strength, then begin
When you start to feel yourself becoming drained, getting tired and skipping meals ⏤ stop doing what you’re doing and take time to find your strength again.
Take an hour to go on a walk through the woods or just around whatever area you’re in.
You can even take just a few minutes to write down your thoughts and organize them so you can make sense of the chaos.
Take a moment to breathe and see the best path forward.
You don’t have to rush toward “alright” when you can wait and build strength to reach “good”.
There is Help
Vivent Health offers fentanyl test strips, so that users can determine the presence of fentanyl in other substances. For more information, call 262-657-6644.
Kenosha County Public Health also offers free training and supplies of Narcan, a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/KCNarcan or call 262-605-6741.
The Kenosha County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Resource Center may be reached from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 262-764-8555.
The Kenosha County Crisis Hotline operated is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, at 262-657-7188. Kenosha Human Development Services operates the hotline.
EP 14: Do what you can – Inside the Mind of Daniel Thompson
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