Overcoming Mental Stress Through Yoga – My Very First Visible Breakdown
Yoga
Until I experienced it, I never knew the power of Mental Stress. It is underrated, so I’ll tell my story.
Getting to the end of 2018 ( I think from the latter part of October), I suffered a mental breakdown. I was mentally stressed out, and I wouldn’t want to do any of the usual things I would do if I were okay. I wouldn’t even step out (for someone who enjoyed going out and exploring), and I kept feeding myself with toxic thoughts.
It took a massive toll on my body; my eye bags were inflated, but I ignored that because, I mean, everybody knows I have eye bags. Then I started feeling weak; my insomnia was off the charts, my teeth felt misaligned and numb( oh yes, lol) and then, worst of all these – a giant scar appeared on my forehead as a sort of twisted culmination of what was happening within me. My face descended into anarchy, and I didn’t feel great! Well, did I see a doctor or dentist? Yes! I was diagnosed with mental stress.
I couldn’t go out without applying a foundation on my face, and people would ask, “Awo what happened to your face ?” And everybody knows that I’d usually avoid makeup if it’s unneeded, so you can imagine how hard this was for me. It was tough! I started using different products (a lot of expensive & artificial products) on my face, but man, I’ve concluded that my face doesn’t like products; lol or let’s say what was happening was within, and I needed to kill the toxins in my body.
One day I woke up and said, “I think this is it!” I knew I had to be myself again and fight whatever was within; plus, you all know I’m a Wonder Woman 😩 (like I couldn’t even attempt to be this hilarious at the time)
So I started cognitive therapy- yes, Yoga (before, I was doing just the physical aspect of Yoga), and then I resumed full veganism ( I went vegetarian for some time to shoot up my protein levels but I will address that in another post. I have been plant-based for 11 years now), my body just needed something different, so I listened!
I paid attention more to getting rid of my mental stress by doing the above and others. I stopped worrying about the physical, and stopped using products on my face. After a few weeks, I saw that what is inside of you is greater than what’s out. My face cleared up, and I started feeling better and soulful.
Here are a few lifestyle changes I adopted:
- Yin yoga (Click here to sign up for Yin yoga class )
- Gym (I did cardio and aerobics thrice a week)
- Meditations ( I used an app called “calm”. Click here to book a meditation session)
- Journaling (I journal every damn day. Start small by just documenting how your day went)
- Full plant based diet (Avoid animal milk as well, don’t you want to try oat milk?)
- Night beach (I just go to the beach and at night, watch the stars and enjoy the breeze)
So I just wanted to share this, feed your body with the good things, never underestimate mental stress and if it’s too much for you to handle, talk to someone – cut yourself some slack! Drink some tea! Worrying and whatnot does nothing (take it from me), and know that beauty is within! The beauty within, once I identified, reflected outside, and now I can only say I’ve grown Stronger!
“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary” – Mandy Hale
Navigating through your website/blog changed my precious perceptions about life, you have made me to start paying little attention to my day to day activities and every details concerning my life in a relaxed fashion.
These works of yours will undoubtedly transform thousands if not millions of lives across the world. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much Acho for your kind words 🤍 . I’m glad my piece made an impact, and you had a good read.