Go…to therapy! Author Frederik Backman encourages healing

Frederick Backman, the author of “Anxious People”, has let it be known that his depression and anxiety could be the source of his writings. He uses his experiences to put words onto a feeling.  His thinking process works, and that is why his characters are so well-loved and his books so popular.  Many of his characters along with most of his readers are ordinary people with everyday anxieties.  His characters resonate with us.  We feel empathy, and not so alone with our feelings. 

Instead of a country or a city or a museum to suggest you visit, I’m going to do something different and suggest a variety of therapies you can consider trying to help keep you healthy. GO try a few things that appeal to you to see what might help you lift some of your mundane anxieties as well as ones that might be more complicated. Everything I’ve listed can improve your physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social selves.  It’s all connected!

As Backman says at the beginning of ‘Anxious People’, “We are all idiots because being human is idiotically difficult.” Here are a few forms of therapy, from traditional “talk therapy” to small, everyday mental health practices that may be able to help alleviate anxiety- there’s help for us all!

TALK THERAPY

Psychotherapists help you understand that something can be done to improve your situation or your life in general.  Changes can be made to enhance healthy behaviors that will improve relationships, help you express your emotions more easily, and be better at thinking positively.

Life Coaches can also help you get unstuck and achieve your goals, and if community is what you need, there are support groups for just about anything - there is magic in shared experiences!

SPIRITUAL THERAPY 

There are many ways we can treat our souls as well as our minds and bodies no matter what our individual belief systems are. Here are a few practices to consider that may help us access our personal beliefs and use that faith to explore areas of conflict, get clarity, and work toward having more peace in our lives. You can practice by yourself or in a group.

Meditation - Yoga - Mindfulness - Prayer - Serving your Community - Organized Religion - Bathing in Nature - Earthing - Music Therapy - Art Therapy - Laugh Therapy - Breath Therapy - Sound Healing 

MASSAGE THERAPY

Therapeutic massage simply describes any massage modality that helps relieve pain, reduce stress, or works on a specific problem. You can also simply get a relaxing massage because it just feels good, and that’s always good for the body, mind, spirit, and soul!  There are many massage modalities to choose from - some combine several modalities in one session. For example, Chi Massage combines several massage modalities that are not all traditional massage methods. Here are a few others -  Swedish Massage, Reflexology, Deep tissue Massage, Lomi Lomi Massage, Quantum Touch, Healing Hands, Acupressure, Trigger Point.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THERAPY

Just getting out and moving helps to improve your body, mind, spirit, and soul.  It protects against many chronic diseases. It reduces feelings of anxiety and depression.  It improves your memory and brain function. It improves the quality of your sleep. It lowers your cholesterol and improves your heart health. Here are a few activities you can do on a regular basis - 

Walk, run, hike, bike, swim, kayak, skate, go to a gym, get a trainer, join a pickleball team or play tennis. Join any kind of community sports team. Have fun!

SOCIAL THERAPY

…helps us feel connected to others which is good and necessary for every part of us, but especially our souls. 

Stay connected with family and friends. Build Social Networks. Join or start a book club, recipe club, poker club, mahjong club, hiking club, sports club, actually any club that interests you!  Walk and talk with a friend, entertain, travel with friends, plan activities. Keep in touch!

BRAIN THERAPY

Besides having a healthy diet, exercising daily, connecting with others, and getting enough good sleep, here are a few ways we can stretch our brains and keep them healthy.

Read books on a new subject, learn or continue playing an instrument, listen to podcasts, attend lectures or workshops, pick up a new hobby, play games that are fun and challenge your brain, learn a new language.

PET THERAPY

Our furry friends cannot only help people heal from disease, but they are also especially wonderful in helping people deal with anxiety and stress.  They bring love, loyalty, affection, and joy to all of us. And they give great snuggles and kisses! 

SELF-CARE THERAPY

…is simply recharging and engaging in activities to relax and promote your emotional well-being.

Turn off social media, read a good book, watch a movie, take a warm bath with soaking salts, light candles, use aromatherapy, get a manicure and pedicure. Take a walk on the beach, in the mountains, in a forest, or at the zoo, just somewhere you can enjoy nature at its finest.  Light a fire in the fireplace, make a delicious pot of soup or a decadent dessert, sleep in, go on a weekend retreat.

None of these lists are exhaustive.  There are unlimited possibilities you can GO try that will make your life healthier, happier, and easier.  Have fun exploring!

Disclaimer: If you are experiencing struggles with mental health, please seek professional help. Psychology Today has a searchable database of accredited therapy professionals if you need help finding support.