being able to cope effectively with life and create satisfying relationships
Mindfulness has been shown to decrease stress, anxiety, and depression and improve mood, self-efficacy, and empathy in health profession students.1
Information and Resources
- Take your care into your own hands with information and self-help worksheets for various mental health issues.
- Optimism is a skill that can be developed. Find out more with this summary of Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman.
- Learn the basics of CBT and how it can help with maladaptive cognitive processes.2
- Get an introduction to mindfulness and how to meditate.3
- Emergency help or free appointments are available through IU School of Medicine Mental Health Services.
- Sanvello is a free app that is based on mindfulness meditation and CBT.
- Discover which coping mechanisms you use and whether they are healthy or unhealthy.
- Browse a list of podcasts and apps about wellness, meditation, and more.
Recommendations/Reflections
Fill out the ABCDE worksheet about a current stressor in your life and try to recognize patterns in your thought processes. Are these thought processes helpful or harmful? What are alternative ways of thinking about the problem?
- Practice mindfulness when taking a break from studying, commuting, making dinner, exercising, etc.
- Take daily/weekly/monthly personal inventories where you check in with yourself. How have you been doing? What have been successes in your life? What issues are you currently dealing with? What resources/actions do you need in order to resolve those issues?
- What are some unhealthy coping mechanisms that you use? In what situations do you use them? What are alternative healthy coping mechanisms that you could try?
- Join support groups/clubs to share profound or impactful experiences in your life. This could be informal as well, such as a family member or friend. Having someone to talk to about significant events in your daily life can help you express your feelings and emotions healthily.
- Counseling/mental health services aren’t just for mental health issues. Utilize these resources even if you just need to talk after a difficult day at the hospital, family troubles, etc. Your mental health is as important as your physical health, and it’s important to stay on top of it.