10 Mental Health Lessons That Changed My Life

[@AtoZenLife]

Please like this video + comment with YOUR top mental health lesson! Join me on Instagram here: instagram.com/atozenlife/ - would love to see you there!

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

enemy tried used her on me then no way again

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

I didn't mean to insult to any one but I shared with others that how should be the role of servant of God his spiritually and moral character and his family he servant of God and his family should be practical example for others

[@marywinchester5323]

I must cut out certain foods and walk daily for my mental wellness. I need to learn meditation

[@marywinchester5323]

Sometimes I listen to A to Zen life videos 3 times

[@marywinchester5323]

Omg I totally agree. People that say ugly things it's a reflection of something in them so I don't take it personally. I am learning alot here. I luv like minded people and those that are NOT like minded

[@kimberlylopez3230]

💚 my personal mantra is “do the math”. I have worked in Customer service for 30 years and I figure of 100 people I interact with daily about 20 are not nice BUT they shouldn’t be more important than the 80 that were nice. Also, do the math, if I have a bad moment in my day, it might be about 30 minutes of bad, that should not consume my thoughts more than the 23 1/2 hours that were good. Remember you are loved, if not by anyone, by you.

[@geraldinecolvin8662]

This is great! Really helpful. Thank you.

[@katiebellejohnson2688]

God loves you!🥰

[@anythinggoes8672]

Thank you for sharing please know it helped me today I appreciate it

[@doctormimi9486]

I needed to hear this…..thank you

[@janiehoyt5232]

Needed this today!

[@amyhowson2824]

💚 When we were explaining to our younger children that our eldest had been diagnosed with bipolar our youngest daughter took off her glasses and looked at them and then put them back on her face. Her next statement transformed how we approached mental health medications. She said, " So, my sister needs mediation to see the world clearly, just like I need glasses to see the world clearly." At that moment, I stopped questioning if the medication was the right road for our daughter. I am happy to say 7 years later she has found the right mix, found her "normal" and is succeeding in life. :)

[@stephanieplata3743]

thats beautiful.

[@nickorange4881]

thats beautiful.

[@VickyHafler]

💚 Being a empty nester I need to tell myself, “You did the best you could with the knowledge you had at the time.”

[@elizabetharaujo1323]

I feel like I'm going to look back one day and regret all kinds of things being a mother. This is a nice thought to carry on with.

[@VickyHafler]

@@elizabetharaujo1323 Write it down. I have regrets, we all do. My friend said this to me one day and it was a treasure for me.

[@mariannewhite383]

I want to suggest a slight tweak to your mantra if you don’t mind. I tell my mom all of the time to stop saying she did the best “SHE” could, denoting perhaps a fear that someone else given the same deck of cards would somehow do better, no my dear, not true, my mom loved and loves me fiercely and sacrificed much, I grew up incredibly poor, but couldn’t care less. You did the best anyone could do experiencing your story. Thank you for creating a nest for a child to feel safe and confident enough to leave it.

[@rndsaneo2172]

Wow…this is gold…I’m still “in” it with a 5 year old, 2 year old and a 5 week old 😂 I need to tell myself this even now ❤️

[@tam6912]

Make a list of the things your parents did or ways they did things that you don’t want to do and come up with a plan to do or handle circumstances and situations in a better way. It takes a conscience effort and practice not to react and parent in the negative ways one may have experienced but it’s worth the effort.

[@laurendaugherty6963]

“Done is better than perfect.” LOVE THIS! I’ve had to work really hard on perfectionist thinking. My daily mantra is “good enough.” House perfectly clean? Nope, but it’s good enough. Did we eat sandwiches for dinner because I was too tired to cook? Yup, that’s good enough. Total game changer for me. 💚

[@francoiselafferty-hancock5112]

Absolutely! I vacuumed just part of the living room the other day because the rest of it was a mess and I had limited time. Felt good knowing that some of it was done and that was okay.

[@katestanislawski1277]

💚”Every time you judge someone, you’re revealing a part of yourself that needs healing “ 💚

[@spirituallysafe]

What if it is a child abuser you are judging? Or a murderer? What needs personally healing in such scenarios do you think?

[@katestanislawski1277]

@@spirituallysafe that is a good question! 👍

[@ZenNatureHub]

💚 I suffer from anxiety. It really helped me when I read: “every time you picture a terrible scenario, try to imagine yourself having a fulfilling life even if that thing happened”. For example, could you have a fulfilling live if you lost your job, what would you do that would make you happy? This REALLY made a great impact on my mental health. That and jornaling (which I’ve done since I was 13)

[@Plethorality]

brilliant.

[@melissai4798]

Wow 🤩 show stopper

[@yumaypolston999]

In my struggle with GAD, I have to remind myself: "Don't let the fear of what might happen tomorrow rob you of the joy of today".

[@samramsey1142]

💚 my favorite mental health lesson is from my father and he always said "you don't have to win every battle to win the war"

[@sallydansereau1270]

💚 For me, getting outside every day helps my mental well-being. Whether it’s a short walk at lunchtime (pre-retirement), or a long hike in the mountains, getting outdoors is my thing.

[@katiebellejohnson2688]

My doctor once prescribed 15 minutes of daily outdoor time-it helps!

[@teresaedwards4688]

💚as a caregiver, putting everyone else first drained me completely… I had to learn to take care of myself is also a gift to the ones I care for … it’s hard at first , but if you don’t take care of yourself , you cannot fully help others 💚

[@AtoZenLife]

Yes! Caregivers give so much…thank you for sharing. 💚

[@budgetinghowtostayafloatin8272]

The biggest mental health change for me was learning to treat my emotions the same way as a physical workout. If i had done a physical workout that left me tired i would naturally tell myself good job well done rest now. Being told to treat my emotions the same way when im stressed or anxious made a huge difference.

[@sherylporter9557]

This is good advice. I find it very hard to switch emotions off though.

[@budgetinghowtostayafloatin8272]

@@sherylporter9557 its actually the opposite of switching them off though 😊 its about learning to rest when ur stressed or upset or emotional, giving urself patience n space to feel how ur feeling not trying to avoid them. It took me a long time to really get too that and it still happens now n then i get to wrapped up in the emotion to just let it happen. Hope this helps xx

[@antiantipoda]

My slogan for these days is: "Your emotions are your responsibility." I have no duty to "cheer someone up" or "be a rock to someone else", those are responsibilities I have towards me. Full stop. I know it sounds egotistical, but it is protective. Life throws people at us that are looking for someone else to be dragged into the drama. I learned to walk away.

[@beverlyness7954]

💚 I and my family are Norwegian by ancestry, we all live in the US. When I was young I heard that Scandinavian's have a higher percentage of mental health issues than other countries. I didn't really understand or even know if it was true at that time. Now I've lived my life and realize how many of my family members are part of that equation. Everything from alcoholism and drug use to genius traits and/or wild and unpredictable behaviors even suicide. First what I've learned (and my Mother fully demonstrated) is all of these people need understanding, love and support. Second what I've learned is everyone has something to contribute to the family and to the world. Third what I've learned is that these people, my family and friends, already judge themselves harshly, and they don't need my negative judgement. They need caring, understanding and help. They are a gift and a light to all of us, their struggles are real and they need our love and support. The hard part for me has been setting boundaries so I can participate in their life and not become part of the statistic. I've done this through love and understanding and never giving up.

[@Staceface_95]

Your example of number literally describes me, but the opposite. I grew up in a house where my mom did everything around the house because of her perfectionism. I remember going to my BFF’s house growing up and judging her mom for how strict she was about them doing chores, but looking back, I wish I had structure and positive discipline in my life and had learned those life skills from an early age. I learned so much at my BFF’s house that I would have never learned at home. It wasn’t until I met my now husband when I was 19 that I learned how to do laundry by myself.

[@elizabethwilk9615]

My dad cooked at home but I didn’t learn to cook an egg until 18. He had anxiety and some depression and would always be afraid I’d spill boiling water over myself or cut a finger if I cooked etc. So yes when I go to other kids home I could tell something was off. My mother definitely had a personality disorder and her maternal instincts were poor. I can see it all clearly now and thank God I was able to have a normal marriage and brought up kids that definitely didn’t go through what I had to - years in my 20s I had low self esteem and attracted narcissistic cold people. I read a lot and self educated myself on mental health since I didn’t have money for a therapist. I wish everyone the best it’s not easy but you must at some point pause and take care of yourself before you can proceed to take care of others.

[@23Jesa]

💚 My number one mental Health Tip: don‘t consume to many news. I only check news on a serious and neutral Platform once a day, and on sundays I normally don‘t! Love your Videos so much Marissa!!

[@AtoZenLife]

Thank you so much for sharing your point, I’ve had to cut back on media consumption lately as well! Cheers and take care. 💚

[@sallydansereau1270]

100% agree. Stay informed but don’t let it overwhelm 💚

[@JamieM470]

Yes! When I look at/listen to too much, I get so anxious & frustrated. I've been black-pilled so I don't just get sad; I get depressed & stop functioning, which makes me disappointed & mad at myself. So lately I barely skim the news just to keep up in general, other than that I avoid it like the plague. And I'm much more happy and functional this way 💚

[@antiantipoda]

I just cut media off completely. If there is something that someone wants to tell me they can start at the beginning. "Did you see that someone did something? I did not. Tell me from the start." I just look for news that are so stupid that they are funny. For instance Depp x Heard.

[@catharinab8860]

Not keeping up with the news have really been a gamechanger for me! Also detoxing from social media once or twice a year is really nice too!

[@rhonddabosworth]

I am in my late 70's, and like you had an alcoholic (and largely absent) father. Your video is extremely helpful. What I can add, is that many anxieties and self-torturing thoughts go away with age. If they do reappear, you have the experience, especially of the processes of your own mind, to dismiss them, and return to emotional equilibrium. We have one life - this also becomes starkly obvious with age. You are so right about saying goodbye to toxic relationships - and anything in fact, including cultural garbage directed at women, that brings you down, when you honestly know that you are doing your best (the wonderful Nina Simone song - 'I'm just a soul whose intentions are good, oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood .....' Another thought - would you be the mature and helpful person that you are, if you hadn't had suffering in life?

[@mariebambelle7361]

💚 i learned that happiness is not a state that we reach when everything is going well in our lives, it's a CHOICE we make everyday to try and see everything with joy, even when some things go bad (because we all have problems !). (sorry for my english, it's not my first language)

[@eileencarroll6418]

💚 GET OUTSIDE every day.

[@janethassing2523]

💚 I have given my worries up to God. It will all work out in his time. Take things in small chunks.

[@laina-brown]

It has been so hard for me to realize that my personal resources are finite. I want to be able to do everything and help everyone, but that simply impossible because I'm a human. Working on picking my priorities.

[@MMutig]

💚 Learning to ask myself: "Is this really my responsibility?" changed a lot for me. I used to feel responsible for the well being of everyone around me. As very co-dependent trait, that inevitably leads to exhaustion ans tons of guilty feelings. It left me with no strength left for things I was really responsible for, like my own health and wellbeing. Looking back, having the Burnout was the best thing that could have happened to me- it allowd me to learn so many important things in my mid 30s- things that should be taught in shool or at home. We need to heal ourselves, so our children may learn better behaviour from our example and live fuller, healthier and kinder lives. It's probably the only way to truly heal the world. 💚

[@paigeajamieson]

💚 something I heard a couple of years ago…”compare and despair.” I do my best to feel good about myself by being myself and when in doubt I just remind myself of that little phrase.

[@peachesandpoets]

OK I hear what you're saying but I had to crack a smile when you posted the comments because more people should do that. Without context people just mindlessly say horrible things to other people on social media without thinking of the human being on the other end. I know I've done it. It's important for people to be held accountable for their words.

[@sararose9664]

💚💚💚💚💚 I’m 35 and I’ve been on an antidepressant since age 14 when I witnessed my father commit suicide. It was horrific and I’ll never take my antidepressant/mental health for granted. Thank you for such relatable content Marissa❤️ love you!

[@sherihepworth8253]

Giving my life to Christ and trusting in Him for all my unknowns is the very best mental health treatment!

[@shirleygermain5707]

💚 I have no problems saying no now. Lol, It's freeing. When I see friends or family, I am overwhelmed, and it takes a day or two to unwind, so I limit my interaction. I always feel I am not being heard, and unhappy after seeing them. I am an introvert.

[@amma7244]

💚I work in adolescent mental health to have 43 years longevity I monitor my stress level and unhelpful thoughts through the day. Other people’s pain can take a toll over time. Outside of work I am protective of who I give energy to. Faith family and friends.

[@pilgrimlearning9530]

💚 I found out I'm autistic, and struggled with severe anxiety and depression, especially postpartum with my last baby. Reducing the mental and physical clutter in my life has helped so much!

[@melissai4798]

Brother has asd, then my eldest daughter got diagnosed with asd and 2nd daughter is waiting to be seen for asd, then before Xmas I realised I had concerns for myself. On the start of a long waiting list.

[@Sky-Child]

Accepting that being autistic means I have a really hard time with parenting/disorder/clutter really helps. Be kind to yourself. Ask for help

[@christinemariequigless]

yes! One finger points out and three fingers point back: what we think about others is what we are thinking about ourselves ❤

[@agatamich]

💚Im abuse surviver and for me most important Words are: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."

[@cecehopkins1787]

💚 Thank you for sharing this. One lesson I learned from reading "Love Languages" is that when someone whose love language is gift giving (and receiving) is that I don't have to feel guilty when someone gives me a gift. My languages are Words of Affirmation and Acts of Service. I now can appreciate their kindness, say thank you and show them my love my way. What a relief it was when I finally realized it's okay to be me. And it's okay for you to be you. Ahhh.

[@AtoZenLife]

This is wonderful!

[@hayleahhuskey7845]

Mental health will always be worth investing in.

[@melissaklouda9656]

💚 "Comparison is the theif of joy" (Teddy Roosevelt) so focus on my life and just do something. Doing something usually makes it better.

[@tired_buthappy]

💚 My mental health truth: For me, naming the problem is half the battle. Finding out what I’m struggling it and naming it makes tackling the issue much easier. Figure out how you process - by writing, by talking it out, through prayer or meditation, a mix of multiple things … and then build your tool chest. Write things down when you hear good bits of advice or put them in your phone’s notes app. My mental health tip: I write down what I’m feeling. Then I reply to myself as my “higher self,” giving myself the advise I wish I’d been given by others.

[@AtoZenLife]

I love all of these points!

[@vivio2852]

I’m going to try that! Dear Girlself:

[@maureenmccrackin6933]

💚The Desiderata gives many mental health tips, but my favourite one is ' do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness'. My mother would say " Things always look better in the morning."

[@pipe2devnull]

I used to quote "The universe unfolds, as it should" from Desiderata to my Dad who had dementia and was worried all the time at stuff he could no longer understand. I forgot where I got that quote from until I looked it up. Must have been the 70s pop song version.

[@kamloopscruiser874]

ACOA here. I lost my mother when I was 14, with an alcoholic dad who sent me to live with an abusive aunt because he didn’t want to bother, which I survived. I’ve built a great life- I am 65 and this video is WONDERFUL! I backed up several segments to listen again because this holds such good insights. Some things I had figured out but more than a few light bulb moments in here like that non linear bit, and the toxic nature of perfectionism. ❤ I am a minimalist in most ways but I struggle to let go my need for backups. Clothes, makeup, towels, cleaning supplies. It’s an area I’m aware of, and I work at but I didn’t understand how it plays into that fear of not having enough, and not being prepared for chaos.

[@elizabetharaujo1323]

💚 having anxious thoughts is like leaving the house with the stove on. It's a waste that isn't benefiting anyone and it's costing you at the same time.

[@monikakrall3922]

Trauma of unpleasant ubringing can be triggered by so many things, seeing a happy family, a child having stuff that I didnt have,seeing parents paying attention to children, seeing parents who dont drink, dont smoke, seeing people living in clutterfree house.....I had these and many other triggers all my life, now thanks to special exercises, diet changes, lifestyle changes, decluttering, I hardly get triggered as I am able to focus on the present...

[@carolynchristy]

I'm not religious but remembering the Serenity Prayer would help me take a step back and take another look at whatever was troubling me. Yeah, I'm an ACOA as well.

[@alicejohnson6775]

💚We are all broken in one way or another. Everyone has opinions.......let them HAVE them...............don't take them upon yourself!

[@janecoder1]

💚 advice from dr. years ago: you cant make someone love you the way you want them to. (parent/child)

[@amandaness6]

💚 my father was (still is) an alcoholic and I spent most of my life believing if I could just be GOOD enough I would never get in trouble and be worthy of love. This lead to panic attacks that put my in the ER and my own brand of anxiety and depression that sabotaged most of my 20s. I had to learn that I am enough, just me. That simple shift changed my entire life.

[@AtoZenLife]

😢 You are enough!

[@OdinsSage]

💚 it's okay to just not be okay sometimes 💚 I had to give myself permission to stop down playing my anxiety, to myself and to others. Once I started doing this I've been able to start accepting my anxiety as a piece of me and approach it in a healthy way instead of running from it or pretending it isn't there.

[@AtoZenLife]

This is good! We got a children’s book called “Grumpy Monkey” and it was all about how he just needed a day to be grumpy! My kids love it and I think it’s important to know not everyday is great - for all sorts of reasons. Cheers. 💚

[@OdinsSage]

I'll look into that book. I have a nephew around your boys age who could sure benefit from permission to have the occasional grumpy day.

[@robertawiggins3695]

💚I believe we need to break the stigma of seeking mental help and taking medication for mental health issues. If one were to break a leg, medication and therapy is needed to get back to 100%. And no one questions the need for that. But when it comes to mental health, therapy and medication may be needed to get some back to 100% as well. I advocate and talk to people about the mental health as often as possible. Thank you for this post!

[@kathryngarcia8800]

💚 Physical movement is the key for me when it comes to putting my mental health as a top priority! Riding my bike is my favorite activity.

[@jessicacole5955]

💚 "Judgement is a mirror". I am going to have to spend some time really meditating on this. So excellently put and your example is very clear.

[@AtoZenLife]

Thanks for watching, Jessica. ✨

[@JamieM470]

I love that! That was my favorite part of the video. Harsh judgement says a lot more about the judge than it says about the one being judged. I want to make a sign of that for my desk lol. Marissa has been such a big help for me. 💚

[@juliaf2260]

💚 "don't be so hard on yourself" or the positive way "be kind to yourself" a small progress is better than none... and i love "collecting memories than things"

[@LifeOrdinary87]

💚 I suffer from severe anxiety and bipolar depression. My number one mental health tip: SELF CARE via reading, time to yourself, shopping, etc...

[@meganhamlyn1694]

💚 rest is not laziness!

[@Claycat4]

💚The last few weeks, I have been planting a garden. I am watching my vegetables grow. It makes me so happy. I forget how grounded I feel when I'm out in my garden!

[@thevegetablequeen]

Gardening is extremely therapeutic and great for mental health!

[@AtoZenLife]

That’s wonderful! I’m always a bit jealous of people who do well with plants. 🌱😉

[@lynnhendley8910]

Mental health tip: Don't let Anyone or Anything Steal your Joy. Give yourself Grace.

[@zrinklaz]

Wonderful tip

[@stowie5790]

💚 I used to panic when things would come up that were out of my control and I dealt with them by losing my temper and being angry the whole day. It could have been my kids not wanting the breakfast I made to an unexpected meeting at work when I was buried in paperwork. When major things came up I would pretty much fall apart. One day a number of things went far off kilter and a co-worker looked at me so calmly and said, “This too shall pass”. It was like a switch was flicked and all the pent up energy & emotions went away. I’m not perfect and yes, things still pop up that can push my many buttons (😊) but I have such a new way of looking at things that the panic no longer sets in.

[@knitwittygirl]

Thank you for braving the negative comments to bring us your perspectives on life , I for one appreciate it!

[@marinavicart]

💚 when I take care of myself, I take care of my loved ones 💚

[@rochelled7785]

💚 it’s so important to know your limits and respect them💚

[@adriannegonzalez3277]

💚 I have ocd and reducing visual clutter and organizing my stuff in matching bins has helped ease most of my daily anxiety

[@kelsiekluender7842]

💚 - I live with anxiety and have loved to work with a "calming corner" in my work space as well as talking to my people about my life and theirs. :)

[@patdennis2586]

💚 None of us know the struggles another of us is dealing with.

[@genabrown8740]

💚 I really appreciate you! Always such great content! So real and inspiring. Your honesty is refreshing. At 56 years old I have finally put my mental health as my number 1 priority. It took a long time, but I'm so much better off for it.

[@genealotech]

PS: I really needed this today. My morning was spent feeling irredeemably broken 😞

[@sherylporter9557]

Sending a big hug. Hope you feel better. 💋

[@genealotech]

@@sherylporter9557 Thank you.

[@sylviacrowley2331]

Give yourself the right to simply pause to requests. And “Thank you for asking, I cannot” is a great comeback! 👍

[@Slowliving_zoya]

💚 I was diagnosed with Crohn (IBD) disease which doesn’t have cure only can be maintained by medication ( which I hated). It took troll on my mental health as I wanted to have another baby and here I am with tons of medication and MRIs blood tests … finally I made a peace with this disease that let’s be together and live with it… since then I got my second bub and on 5 pills a day … And my husband and my older son who is 8 years old fully supports me with .. Thank ful and grateful 😇

[@sleepingroses761]

"The sun will rise and we will try again." 💚💚 This is from a mental health awareness sticker I found the other day.

[@LifeWithAllOfUs]

People have nothing better to do than be mean. I love your house. You and your family fill it with love and that’s all that matters ❤

[@elsapapageorgiou8252]

💚dear Marisa. I’m a Greek living in Paris, far from my dear ones. I’ve discovered your videos some time ago and I’ so grateful.. they are a real healing for my heart.. thank you so much for sharing all your experiences with us. You look such a nice person.. I really hope you find the happiness and peace of mind you deserve. I think you are in a very good direction with your amazing family, your way of being and living. I send you alla my love and gratitude. Keep going..

[@CindDJo]

💚 I used to have a hard time saying No. I learned that even when I said No I didn't really mean it. I had to change the word to something that I (and everyone else) understood to really mean NO. I started saying N-A-F-T, Darlin'. It means Not A F--ing Chance. That REALLY means no. I did have to soften it by adding "Darlin'" to the end. My kids (who are grown ups now) still know when I say N-A-F-T, Darlin' I REALLY mean NO and there's not a chance I'll change my mind. 😎

[@BETH..._...]

It's okay to admit that we are: Overwhelmed Tired Scared Confused It's ok to let someone know that we need help. 💚Thank you!

[@kimhern2002]

I don’t usually comment on videos but the information you provided really helped me to identify things about myself that I hadn’t realize were affecting my life. Thank you.

[@eliz493]

💚 I judge when I see something that scares me and is outside of my control...also, your realization that your judgement came from jealousy is something I can relate to. My childhood was rough, and I'm still ferreting out old, false programming that isn't useful anymore. Learning to self-nurture is foreign, but attainable.

[@lenarobins2480]

💚 not being perfect is ok, you are enough, and everyone is struggling with something

[@vincestaude0812]

💚 - I learnt that I do not have to do everything by myself and that other people's opinion about me are their opinion, but never my problem (this goes for compliments as well as for badmouthing).

[@canadiansolomom]

💚 something similar I have learned is if someone is being mean or negative or a total jerk, it usually has nothing to do with you and is most likely something they are struggling with. Therefore show empathy and compassion.

[@AtoZenLife]

So true! 💚

[@riaware7747]

💚, best lesson I learned from my Clinical Supervisor, ‘Not my circus, Not my monkey’. In healthcare, running around and trying to please everyone will burn you out!!!

[@gineenkucherak3349]

💚I learned not to be afraid to ask for professional/medical help even if you don’t think you need it! It has made a huge difference in my life and my families life.

[@jocypare6019]

💚 I have a lot of mental health. From trauma that could have been avoided with proper communication. Learning proper communication is key.

[@Es24688]

Becoming a parent changed my mental health for the better. It made me realize how strong and capable I truly was. It became easier to say no to things and have a routine because that’s what my kiddos needed. It also helped me stop trying to be perfect or please everyone. Children also have a way of occasionally being embarrassing in public, and those times actually helped me get over the fear of being embarrassed in public. My oldest is also more of a highly sensitive personality type, and having to learn about that and try to truly understand those moments where she would get overwhelmed also helped me to become more understanding and less judgmental of others.

[@lauralazar4514]

Great video… Both my parents were alcoholics and in fact my dad died of liver disease from drinking. My sister ended up with similar problems for many years but went through treatment and is fully recovered. Thankfully with the grace of God I did not go down the alcoholic path. It was a very trying time growing up with a lot of instability when my parents were intoxicated. They were different people when they were sober and that brings me happy memories. Sending hugs

[@chichi-wh4iz]

I'm an ACOA too. My dad died in April this year. His death has been hard, yet a rude awakening as to how I've been living my life. It's led me to letting go of a lot. Simplicity and calm.

[@gretarank2784]

One day at a time one challenge at a time its so easy to get in over your head and overwhelmed...now I'm trying to focus on decluttering one space at a time and putting like things together...

[@priscillacarvalho-lovell2898]

💚 I never realise that visual clitter was a thing. It affected my mood so much and i was unaware. A cleare space makes me feel better.

[@maddie1519]

💚💚💚💚💚💚 I have a disability I don't really tell people about it because I don't want it to hold me back from living the life that God has in store for me. This is what works for me I know other people live their lives by their disability, but I won't allow it to get in God's path of me helping someone in need. Anyway I find that it is important to listen to people whether it's negative sometimes and whether it's not and you can choose to accept what they're bringing into your lives either a lesson or strength from the pain that they're feeling in their own lives either way you still win, and hopefully with God's help a lesson will be learned. Thanks for sharing Marissa

[@AtoZenLife]

Thanks for sharing your truth, Maddie. 💚

[@amberp5207]

💚I suffer from anxiety/panic disorder. It is so hard. My tips are- Surround yourself w/positive people that make u happy and even though it is so hard, let go of the people that make u feel sad, unworthy, less than etc…My family cannot understand why I worry so much. I try to to do relaxing things, so I won’t worry so much. I light a candle in the evenings. I keep my house tidy. I keep a routine. Anything that I figure out that makes me feel less anxious, I try to implement it in my daily life. Anything that causes me stress, if I can help it, I get rid of that thing or person. If I have a bad day, when my anxiety is just really bad, I try really hard not to beat myself up about it. If u can, find a good friend, that even if they don’t have your problem or don’t quite understand your condition, they will listen to u, give u advice and b empathetic to u.💚

[@TheRozylass]

Hearing the story of the young women who was raised without knowing how to do any household tasks made me feel sorry for her. Parents think they're doing their children a favor by letting them "be children" without responsibilities, but life will bite them when they're on their own. Our job as parents is to teach children to be successful adults while in a safe, loving home environment where failure is cushioned and second chances are welcome. Teaching a child do do chores is time consuming and often painful; but I have experienced it with our five, they are so grateful when they are adults and out on their own and actually know how to take care of themselves and a home. My best mental health lesson has been that motivation is like the moon, it waxes and wanes; discipline is like the sun, it shines everyday. Even when there is a thick layer of clouds the sun's light can be seen. I can do hard things without motivation if I have discipline, and generally once I get started and see some progress, motivation to finish kicks in. (I'd put a green heart emoji if I knew how.)

[@sherylporter9557]

💚

[@extrememinimalism]

Don't watch the news, delete Facebook/most other social medias until you have 1 or 2 left, regularly delete old texts, declutter toxic relationships, say no when it feels like that's what your heart wants to say, cut out alcohol, donate more possessions then ya keep, sleep more then you might think, get some kinda movement and take ya meds if you need too.

[@TGYtco]

💚 The tip that works best for me is to remember that small steps done consistently make all the difference. Instead of looking at all the things I need to do, I try to focus on one thing at a time, one day at a time.

[@jocelyncarvlin5045]

So many good nuggets in here….”most of life is in the gray and not black or white” ….”done is better than perfect”….”keep routines in good times so in the bad times you can keep the routines”

[@tumorra951]

💚 I use a habit tracker app that helps me grow trees when I keep up with things I have set up. Auto reminders show up. It helps a lot when I'm in funks or even in my day to day. It helps me see what things I really haven't done to take care of me. (Music playlists, stretching, books,etc. are mine ) I write simple ones when I'm feeling low, so I can remind myself that I do accomplish things even during my funks. (Things like brushing my teeth or water intake.)

[@naturalfairykim7736]

💚 I grew up with an alcoholic father and abusive mother. I was 27 when I was finally stable and felt save. Then I had a complete mental breakdown because I wasn't running anymore. I started with MarieKondo and it made me look at my live differently and helpt me to heal and let go of 70% of my stuff. I even lost 20kg in weight and stopped using food for comfort. Within half a year I went from MarieKondo to minimalism and I'm now actively work at essentialism. I have never felt better and have a more stable and grounded outlook on live. ☺️☺️ Thank you for your video's! I love you and your family

[@allyjoyce]

💚 I’ve experienced the mental illness stigma way too many times. I have been unwell for quite a while now but I am working so hard to recover. I would love to help others one day who experience mental illness and also get rid of the stigma!!

[@laurenmanley4616]

💚 getting rid of toxic relationships has been so wonderful for me. Difficult but helped my mental health in a huge way. I grew up with a narcissistic mother and an enabling father. In my late teens and early twenties, I sought professional help and knowing that I could only change my reactions, not their behavior, was a game changer. Unfortunately, I haven't had a relationship with them in over 30 years, but my life has been so much happier. Thanks Marissa!

[@claudiaw9246]

💚 As a fellow ACOA, I really have to watch for signs that I'm falling back to old bad habits. I need to dust off my good habits, since it's much easier to cope with stress when I'm eating properly, getting enough rest, keeping a journal, etc.

[@treecejohnson144]

💚 As a former Firefighter/First Responder, I've learned that the really bad days never leave you. Those visuals are filed somewhere inside your brain and come out at the most unexpected and sometimes most unfortunate times. It's best to find a therapist to unpack those bad calls, so that the brain can heal from the trauma.

[@AtoZenLife]

❤️

[@xlovelydearx]

💚 you are enough. Even if you need meds. Even if you need to take a step back. Even if getting out of bed is hard most days. Even if you need to seek counseling. Even if…even if…even if. You’re always still enough. 💚💚💚 And don’t stop your meds when you feel “okay”. You won’t when you stop. Having Bipolar disorder and PTSD, I always would stop meds when I felt better or if it hindered my creativity. It took me years to realise that I can be mentally stable AND creative at the same time. It doesn’t keep everything at bay, but I’m a whole different person on my meds in such a great way.

[@darcycollins3923]

💚 remembering that this too shall pass and writing down each night what I was grateful for today. This frees me from all the bad things that happened, all the worries and twisting and turning thoughts before bedtime.

[@VanNguyen-il4rq]

💚 speak to yourself like a mom to a child.

[@calley-anneingleheart2240]

💚 I have learned to think about yourself first and dont waste Your emotional energy on things and people who dont deserve it x

[@jodyvandyke8771]

💚your point including "my why of life" is exactly where I'm struggling now. my daughter was kinda excited to know I'm going to live to be over 100, since I mentioned midlife crisis moments now...at 56. 😄

[@ataylor3202]

💚 I had a NPD mother and ex-husband. It's been a long journey, learning to live in the now and forgiveness, to set me free. I am now in the process of decluttering my mind and home but baby steps. Some days I achieve more than others. I forgive myself for taking days off to regain energy another thing I have got over is saying NO and not taking to heart from their negative response. Boundaries are key! Thank you for doing these videos. When I'm feeling demotivated I watch a few of your videos again so I can continue with my decluttering (mind and home).❤

[@janetstonerook4552]

💚 That I must be patient with myself and others. When I strive too hard or move too quickly, I cause myself a lot of unnecessary problems. In my mind I hear, "Slowly, slowly but keep advancing!

[@genealotech]

💚 no one else can take care of you better than you.