What’s something you do to prioritize your mental health?

As a wife of a 100% p&t veteran with CRONIC PTSD, and his VA appointed caregiver, I'm reminded hourly that it's the little things to restore mental health. A happy song. A hug. A walk on a blue sky day. A good meal, a playful pet or a message from a loved one that lifts the moment and keeps me going and my husband too. Meditation and music in headphones has also been a big source for me to reset and be calm. For my husband, yoga has done wonders for his bad back, mood and health. When life happens, we take a moment and remove ourselves for however long we can and put that happy song on, take a bath, walk the dog and breathe. One moment at a time.

I find a quiet place to meditate and zen out. Sometimes I need to talk it out and call my sister, she is a wonderful support person. Other times I need out of my head so I listen to music and read a book. But the most important thing is to remember that mental health is as important as physical and emotional health.

Attempt to make at least one person to smile.

I coach Boys soccer in my local high school. Cabrillo High School Lompoc ca. It keeps me motivated to get my squad read for up coming season and it helps me stay in shape. While keeping my mental awareness up by learning new drills and techniques

Pray, and hand my worries over to God.

One of the basic things I do to keep me mentally alert is when I get up in the morning, the first thing that I do is make my bed. I do not mean just throw the cover over it, I mean make the bed. It helps me to have a nicely made bed to come to at night and I feel that I have accomplished something the first thing in the morning given me a sense of calm and a feeling that there is nothing i can't accomplish. The next thing is to walk around the house and open the curtains, this is sort of saying to the world, I am ready for you. I know it does not seem like much but it really helps me. Army Specialist-All American.

I personally have to do a few things for keeping my mental health healthy. I keep all of my appointments. I work hard with my mental health team, by doing homework assignments; I've been sober now for 16 months (quit cold turkey - detoxing at home); I write about my traumas and what I go through - there is a mag., VeteransVoices.org. that publishes various things from our military family and my first 3 writings have been published. I am SC for PTSD, and I'm trying to change many things about myself by taking care of myself...my A1c dropped from a 12. to a 5.4 in just over a year. I can do anything as long as I believe in myself - you can too.

Every morning, as soon as I wake up, I check to see if I'm still pumping air.
If the answer is "yes", I calmly go back to sleep.

To answer the question about what I do to prioritize my mental health is so very easy for me. I pray daily thanking God for telling me to accept Jesus Christ. I keep a positive attitude, keep working as a maintenance technician at a church, and keep letting people know I care for them. Playing golf once a week with friends is healthy too.

The picture is from a short-term mission trip to Scotland to help a church during vacation Bible school

Play guitar and sing