My name is Kate Kranias, and I am a member of the 1n5 Youth Council for Suicide Prevention. Through my involvement with 1n5, I am able to advocate for adolescent mental health and work with like-minded peers to debunk stubborn stigmas.
Mental health is everything. Really – it is. Brushing your teeth in the morning, calling a friend, cooking a nurturing meal…it all takes a certain level of mental health that we have to work to maintain. Personally, I have found different forms of self-care that work well for me. It took a lot of trial and error. At times, it was uncomfortable, and I was reluctant to try new, unfamiliar things. But now, that very processing – finding an activity that I am not familiar with and may have judgements about – is one of my favorite ways to practice self-care. In the monotony of the school year and dreary weather, it is easy to fall into a rut. When I feel myself settling into an emotionally draining pattern, I like to sign up for a new exercise class or pick out a book I wouldn’t ordinarily read. Of course, I have my fallbacks: activities that I know are kind to my mind. I love to read and believe books are often underestimated as mental health tools. Even if I don’t crack open a particularly inspiring or wellness-focused text, reading helps me reset. I can fully immerse myself in a book, which gives me some distance from my thoughts. When I’m finished reading, I can look at the situation with fresh eyes and feel a new sense of motivation. I find physical activity to be a similar tool. Connecting with my body and feeling strong reminds me that I can do hard things. Though I find going on a run or lifting alone to be a particularly peaceful kind of quiet, exercise can also be an opportunity to socialize. I believe that being on a sports team helps keep me accountable for my own self-care. I am reminded to fuel my body and participate in healthy movement for not only myself but also my team. Even without the sports component, connecting with others is an incredibly helpful form of self-care for me. Self-care can be tricky. Sometimes, when I am feeling unmotivated to practice self-care on my own, I let the people I love help me. If I am feeling down, I don’t often want to be in a large group, but I turn to the people I know I can truly be myself around. A lot of times, something as simple as sending a text can re-energize me completely. I have one friend that I turn to frequently because no matter what topic I bring up, I know she can find a million ways to look at it and will help reset my brain. I can also have incredibly captivating conversations with my dad, who enjoys learning in the same way I do. These conversations, similarly to reading an enthralling book, give me much-needed space from thoughts that may be stuck in my mind. Self-care, for me, is about experiencing something with all my mind and body. If I am unproductively fixating on certain worries, reminding myself to expand my thoughts helps break the cycle. My self-care advice is to find a way to do just that. I have found that sometimes ,the best way to give my mind a break is to exercise it.