The concept has been doing the internet rounds for a while, and it has the backing of mental health professionals, too. When it comes to psychological wellbeing, can you really heal yourself?
The term ‘self-healing ’ gets thrown around a lot. There are plenty of social media posts about improving your mental health, but the concept gets misconstrued, as people see it as a way to fix what ails them on their own. In fact, it’s a technique that psychology professionals suggest for therapy patients, referring to work they can do between sessions to create healthier coping mechanisms, become better at processing hardships and nurture growth. When practised alone (in therapy or not), self-healing refers to the day-to-day behaviours that improve wellbeing, says psychologist Alfiee M Breland-Noble, founder of The AAKOMA Project. Think: mantras and meditation. ‘Self-healing can also be used as preventative care to cope with stress, promote self-regulation and stop mild depression and anxiety becoming severe,’ says Omotola T’Sarumi, psychiatrist in charge in McLean Hospital’s Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders.
Let’s face it: we need self-healing now more than ever. When left unmanaged, chronic stress or anxiety can lead to leaning on maladaptive behaviours for comfort – such as repeatedly procrastinating on important tasks to ease the pressure of deadlines – that will create problems in the long run. And this is where selfhealing can help. Over time, you’ll learn to handle life’s ups and downs in healthier ways. ‘We all have room to grow,’ says Dr Breland-Noble. ‘Self-healing is a process, not a destination.’
So, where to start? Self-healing happens through unlearning old habits and creating new ones, says Wendy Suzuki, a professor of neural science and psychology at New York University. This happens in brain structures, including the hippocampus. It holds ‘episodic memories of the who, what, where and when of the events in your life, as well as factual information’, says Dr Suzuki. It’s one of many areas where brain cells can be born, and it’s also involved in the ability to link things in novel ways. That’s important in challenging existing thought patterns and shifting your mindset. Experts recommend certain tools to help you not only build new coping strategies, but also find a whole lot of appreciation for yourself. Practise these regularly to make sure your changes stick. Self-healing, right this way…
Guide yourself with mantras ‘These put you on a path to healing,’ says Dr Breland-Noble. ‘Think of them as your GPS.’ Choose one that speaks to you. For inspiration, Dr Breland-Noble posts one o
