How to Deal with Insecurities and Mental Health Challenges
We all suffer from insecurities and mental health, in fact I write about this topic because I was going through a bad day, myself and just wanted to know how to deal with insecurities and my body image issues. You and I both are the same, we over analyse the situation we were in and think about what a fool we had made of us in front of others. But, but…. but overcoming insecurities and mental health challenges is possible with the right strategies and mindset. So, let’s look at the science of it.
1. Know Your Insecurities
The first step in addressing your insecurities is recognizing them. Furthermore, denying or hiding from your insecurities only makes them more powerful. The better your know yourself, the better is it for your own wellbeing.
Take time to reflect on the things that make you feel inadequate—whether it’s related to your appearance, skills, relationships, or past experiences.
But I don’t know what my insecurities are?
- Make a list of things you want to change in your life? It will give you an idea of your desires and your insecurities.
- When do you make a mistake? Do you criticize yourself or not? It can tell a lot if you are insecure with yourself or not?
- Start journaling your thoughts in a notebook or on a digital app. They will help you identify your own thoughts and emotional patterns.
Fun Fact
Food Journaling is the best method to lose weight along with maintaining it for the long term.
2. Accept everything just the way it is
We are often our harshest critics. Negative self-talk and excessive criticism can worsen insecurities and mental health issues. Instead, practice **self-compassion** by treating yourself with the kindness and understanding that you would offer to a friend.
Start using affirmations and positive self-talk to counteract the negative voice in your head. For example:
– “I am worthy of love and respect.”
– “It’s okay to make mistakes, I am growing every day.”
I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
Michael Jordan
By practicing self-compassion, you can begin to break the cycle of negativity and replace it with a stronger will powered attitude. Everyone has insecurities, and nobody is perfect. Accepting your imperfections is a critical part of personal growth. By embracing your flaws, you will be in a far better place, then by ever criticizing them.
Pro Tip
It’s normal to think, “I’m bad at this, or I suck.”. When things are not going according to your plan. Instead try out the growth mindset method, think of problem as just a learning opportunity. Try changing it with “This is something I can improve on.”
3. Practice Mindfulness
Studies have found that Mindfulness is an excellent tool for managing anxiety and insecurities. It also helps keep you grounded in the present moment, reducing the impact of past regrets or future worries.
If you are stressed right now. You can try the “5-4-3-2-1 method”:
Don’t worry, It’s simple and fun.
Just, Name 5 things you see,
4 things you can touch,
3 things you can hear,
2 things you can smell,
1 thing you can taste.
These practices help anchor you in the present and reduce overwhelming feelings.
Besides this, if you are one of those guys who are into meditating, you can try out guided meditation. It’s a fun way to learn about different meditation techniques while having the guidance of an expert, and all of it for free. If you don’t know where to start, here are some recommendations:
Zazen
Transcendental Meditation
Vipassana
Navy SEAL Breath Counting
4. Have a positive social circle
Your environment can significantly impact your mental health. Furthermore, surrounding yourself with positive people such as family, friends, loved ones, or online communities all can provide a significant boost to your mental health. They can uplift you and help diminish your insecurities. Apparently, positive social connections are a key part of feeling validated and appreciated.
Who you spend time with is who you become. Change your life by consciously choosing to surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you, not the stress in you.
Tony Robbins
Avoid toxic environments or people who constantly try to belittle you. Instead, spend time with individuals who encourage and support your growth. Furthermore, The more helping individuals you stay with, the more easy it’s for you to deal with insecurities, and vice versa.
People just don’t realize how much of their life is just controlled by the type of people they spend their time with. Most of our liking and disliking are similar to the ones we live with. When you spend more time with a depressed person, your energy goes down, and when you spend time with a joyous person, your energy goes up.
5. Focus on Your Strengths
Insecurities often cause us to focus only on our weaknesses. However, everyone has unique strengths and qualities that make them valuable. Thinking about your last achievement that you’re proud of can greatly reduce your stress levels.
By shifting the focus from your perceived flaws to your strengths, you can build your self-confidence. Celebrate even the smallest victories, whether it’s completing a task, learning something new, or simply showing resilience.
6. Prioritize Self-Care
Self-care is crucial for maintaining good mental health. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep all contribute to improved mood and reduced anxiety.
Here is the list of self-care habits for you:
- Exercise
- Walking
- Yoga
- Stretching
- Journaling
- Gratitude
- Skincare routines
- Grooming
- Meditation
- Masturbation
- Spending time in nature
- Decluttering your living space
- reading
Self-care also involves doing things that you love. Whether it’s daydreaming, or practicing hobbies, make sure to set aside time each day for yourself. In other words, Taking care of your mental and physical well-being helps you feel more balanced and confident.
7. Seek Professional Help
We all tend to avoid seeing a therapist due to the notion of what will others think of us, but it’s counterintuitive to know that seeking professional help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Therapists can help you deal with insecurities, uncover the root causes of them and provide you with evidence-based techniques to work through them.
CBT which stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most popular forms of therapy for overcoming your negative thoughts and creating healthy behavior pattern
To Wrap It Up
We all goes through our bad phase from time to time, even the best of us. And I know that, yes it is difficult to deal with insecurities and mental issues, but if you have the dedication and the mindset, you can overcome them. It all starts by first recognizing your own insecurities and then accepting it for whatever it is.
Then we start challenging our negative thoughts by doing self-care habits, meditation, and incorporating more cheerful people in our lives, it helps really. And if all of that doesn’t work, then we seek therapy. Anyway, I hope this post helped you in getting somewhat better.