Do psychiatrists also get depressed or anxious? The answer, unsurprisingly, is yes.
Just because you know how your brain works doesn’t change its working one bit. So when a psychiatrist hears some bad news, his body activates the fight or flight system just like everybody else’s.
What affects your brain is action, not knowledge. And many actions can change your mood and state of mind almost instantly.
My favorite one is running — a slow long run is one of the most effective anti-anxiety ‘pills’ out there (it is not meant to replace real medication, though).
Similarly, here are a few simple activities that can dramatically change your state of mind:
- Gratitude and journaling.
- Focused work and flow, directed at meaningful goals.
- Getting enough restful sleep.
- Calming exercises like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation.
- Meditation (especially, loving-kindness meditation).
In case of persistent anxiety, one may have to go deeper though — e.g., work on handling dysfunctional thoughts or avoidance behaviors.
But even for someone undergoing treatment, the above actions can quickly transform the state of mind. So whenever you feel low or anxious, try them out.
When it comes to mental well-being and happiness, knowledge is not the answer — action is.
– Rajan