I connected with the chapter about rumination, suppression, and locus of control (Granello, 2013, p. 98). I have struggled with anxiety and depression my whole life and I am just now able to not let it control me as much as it use to. I particularly resonated with suppressing emotions and the effects of stress on the body. My body has been under chronic stress while also dealing with my depression and anxiety. Now that I am a little more level-headed and can see a little clearer than before, I can see and feel the effects of the prolonged stress on my body, but I have been under this chronic stress for almost seven years.
No one has ever had the stress talk with me, and no one talked to me about mental illness until I started my psychology classes and sought after counseling myself. Now that I know the damage stress has done to my body, I have been trying to reverse the effects and help my body to return to homeostasis. I am well into my twenties and am just now learning that I cannot keep living my life like this if I want to be healthy and alive in ten years.
Another chapter I resonated with is the chapter about intervention (Granello, 2013, p. 98). Improving things in one area often improves things in another. That statement I have known to be true in my anxiety and depression. When my anxiety is really high, I get extremely depressed. When my anxiety is low, my depression is almost nonexistent. I have made small movements in regulating my emotions. I sought out therapy, I am on medications, and I educate myself on the things going on in my body and mind so that I can continue to improve.
During my journey of distressing and regulating my emotions, I have found that I can slow down and life still goes on. That has been the hardest concept for me to wrap my head around for the longest time. I have been focusing on my stress levels, anxiety and depression, and my overall physical health. I have noticed a change that I am liking and will continue to incorporate new techniques as I learn them to help maintain the new lifestyle I am trying to commit to.
Granello, P. F. (2013). Wellness counseling. Boston: Pearson.
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