YOUR PLACE.

This time when you look around, really take in your surroundings. Is there something in your immediate space that you feel like expressing gratitude for?

Perhaps there is something outside that inspires you. Our relationship to nature provides a special sense of connection and wonder. Being outside with nature is one component of a mindfulness practice that can allow us to be more in the moment. And when we are grounded in the moment, our level of tension and anxiety is reduced. It’s much harder to ruminate about the past or worry about the future when we’re focusing on the present.

Just as nature can increase mindfulness, our bodies can greatly assist us with becoming and remaining in the present moment. Where are you right now? What do you see? Where are your feet? Are they planted with the soles on the ground, or crossed at the ankles? Can you feel your toes? What if you focus on your right big toe? Although it may feel a little silly, the practice of trying to feel your right big toe serves as an opportunity to separate yourself from your thinking.

How are you feeling? Has this feeling been a predominant and fairly consistent one for you throughout the past week? Two weeks?

Because one’s mood and level of anxiety can sometimes change multiple times within the day (or the hour, for that matter), this month could be a time of self-evaluation and reflection. If you find that your mood isn’t quite what it used to be, or that you’re feeling more stressed out, then it might be a great time to reach out to that counselor or therapist that you’ve been thinking about calling. Allowing our awareness to lead to action is the primary way by which we can begin to make changes.

As this Mental Health Awareness Month progresses, how will you work to become more aware of your own mental health and the actions you can take to establish better connections with others and yourself?

Daryl Shorter, MD, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is board certified in both general and addiction psychiatry. His clinical practice focuses on veteran care, and he lectures widely on LGBTQ mental health. Dr. Shorter can be reached at dr.darylshorter@gmail.com.