Blog Post 10

TW: Self-harm and sexual assault

     For this week's blog post, I wanted to write about Newman's work. I think right now with the pandemic and general trauma that people have faced in their lives, I think that there's a good way to cope with pain and trauma, and work through it. I have been diagnosed with major depression by 3 different doctors after a traumatic experience of a friend's suicide and a very violent rape at the age of 18. Newman mentions that meditation and self-compassion are scientifically proven to practice resilience. In my own ways, I have used these to help with my mental health as depression is not something like a cut on your skin, where it can heal after a little while and proper care, but it is an everyday battle, and in order to survive, you need to build and develop skills in order to make it through every day as it is something people with major depression learn to live with every day. 

     Self-compassion could be whatever is good for you. I found that self-compassion isn't only mental, but also physical. I go to the gym a few nights every week and do yoga multiple times a day. Going to the gym has kept my body in good shape and releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel happy... add music to your workout, and it releases other brain chemicals that create feelings of happiness and joy, and all of that fun stuff. I will admit, sometimes it really really really is hard to get up and even get showered let alone going to the gym, or even writing that paper for school, but when you do it, it only creates feelings of good and productivity. 

     I also do yoga, and in my practice, I am constantly teaching myself and learning more about self-acceptance and self-compassion, along with taking care of my body. Yoga can also be done anywhere, it doesn't need to be in a sauna and on a yoga mat, its not just putting your body in crazy positions, but can be in your breath, your food, thoughts, and pretty much any aspect of your life. As you practice yoga, you learn to be more at peace and aware of yourself and your thoughts, for example using 'when' and not 'if' in your statements about your future (i/e "When I get my degree" vs "If I get my degree").  It is a constant practice that changes your way of thinking for being more accepting of yourself and what is around you, versus beating yourself down. 

     In speaking of today, with a pandemic, I have constantly been living with general anxiety and pandemic fatigue. I work at Target, and I was around at the beginning when masks were required everywhere. When people didnt wear a mask, I was constantly worried that I was going to go home and expose my high risk parents, or a friend, or other coworkers. And then it was also annoying to not be allowed to ask anyone to pull up their mask to ensure our safety, as tensions had been so high, that some people had been shot at or held at gun point in some Targets over a mask. I think things to help build resilience will help stimulate the mind and body to overall reduce pandemic fatigue, and keep you ready to face anything.