How Practicing Self Compassion Helped Me Improve My Mental Health

How being kind to oneself creates opportunities for personal growth and improved mental health
wellness · 4 min
Following

It was 1980, on Valentine’s Day, that I became diagnosed as a juvenile diabetic type 1. I was only 5 years old. It was a life-altering diagnosis and the end of my childhood innocence. I had to learn how to give my own shots of insulin and deal with both high and low blood sugar difficulties. 

Low blood sugar reactions, happen when there is not enough sugar in the bloodstream because of too much insulin given. They cause me to become confused and shaky and it is a life-threatening situation if juice or sugar is not given immediately. High blood sugars, on the other hand, are equally bad and over time can cause amputations of limbs, kidney issues, or even blindness.

My parents, at the time of diagnosis, thought that I needed to do a sport so that I would not lose my limbs to diabetic complications. My dad signed me up to learn to skate at Kerrisdale Arena and it is where my love of skating started. It wasn’t long before I was wrapped up heavily in the competitive figure skating circle of life.

I practiced for hours and fell many times in an attempt to land new jumps so I could compete at a high level of skating. 

Figure skating, being a subjective sport, relies on judges to determine the rankings of the competitors. I believe that over time as a result of my disordered thinking of being judged continuously and my desperation of trying to advance in my ranking, I looked at myself to try to fix my faults to gain the competitive edge.

Unfortunately, all I accomplished was that I learned to be too self-critical. I thought the judges would look at how you behaved, what you wore, facial expressions, and how your body looked and they were all factors in how one would place in rankings. I dwelt on my negative attributes daily and gave myself constant self-criticism.

According to Dr. Aaron T.Beck, from the University of Pennsylvania, the creator of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, depression can be caused by negative thinking. Therefore, spending a lot of time in a state of negative self-reflection as I did can and did lead to an altered state of mood. 

To make matters worse severe depression, if not treated over time, can cause a shift into psychosis which makes a person unable to tell what is real and not real while in that state. 

This is exactly what happened to me. I got sick with psychosis in 2006 after suffering unknowingly from depression for many years. At the time leading up to the diagnosis and after already completing my university degree in communications,I was in a school that was training me for medical transcription and I was under a lot of stress which put further strain on my brain.

This mental illness devastated me because of many factors. Not only was I humiliated to have a mental illness because of the stigma around mental health issues but I also felt unlovable and rejected by society. 

Psychosis is a serious mental illness and is treatable with proper medication and the medication brings the sufferer back into reality. 

As long as the medication is taken at the appropriate dosage the state of being disconnected from society is rectified. 

However, all you hear in the news are stories of people who are violent with mental illness, and violence in mental illness is actually quite rare. Stigma remains.

I was brought under the careful watch of a psychiatrist and with this medication and talk therapy(cognitive behavioral therapy)I was told and shown that I was actually very hard on myself. This was the turning point.

I needed to change and changing is very hard to do. It takes practice. I started to look at myself as imperfect beauty. I am beautiful because of the flaws that I have. Not ugly because of my flaws. After retraining my brain to think in this manner, by writing in my journal daily, I found that relationships were easier to maintain and my confidence in myself grew. 

I also found that allowing myself to make mistakes frequently without judging myself helped as well.

It wasn’t long before I noticed that my mood was improving. My mood was further helped with an antidepressant but the real benefit is from the positive self-compassion I have for myself now.

practicing self compassion improves mental health
488
Save

Opinions and Perspectives

Cancel Comment
Madison_Hope commented Madison_Hope 3 years ago

I appreciate how the author explains the connection between physical and mental health challenges.

8
AlexisReed commented AlexisReed 3 years ago

The transformation described in this article gives hope to others on similar journeys.

0
Vivienne_Love commented Vivienne_Love 3 years ago

This really highlights the importance of mental health awareness and support.

6
Miranda_Sky commented Miranda_Sky 3 years ago

The courage to share such a personal story is remarkable.

8
Fiona99 commented Fiona99 3 years ago

Managing chronic illness while pursuing competitive sports takes incredible dedication.

5
CyberInfinity commented CyberInfinity 3 years ago

The author's perspective on beauty and imperfection is truly inspiring.

3
Rachel_33 commented Rachel_33 3 years ago

It's crucial to recognize when we're being too hard on ourselves.

6
ChrisBlogs commented ChrisBlogs 3 years ago

This article reminds us that healing takes time and patience.

1
BradyT commented BradyT 3 years ago

The journey from self-criticism to self-acceptance is never easy but so worth it.

2
Marley-Hudson commented Marley-Hudson 3 years ago

Learning to embrace imperfection is such an important life lesson.

7
VibeWithNature commented VibeWithNature 3 years ago

This story shows how complex mental health recovery can be.

2
Stella_Wright commented Stella_Wright 3 years ago

The author's honesty about their struggles with psychosis is commendable.

7
LevelUpLifestyle commented LevelUpLifestyle 3 years ago

It's important to remember that mental health recovery looks different for everyone.

5
Ifill_Insights commented Ifill_Insights 3 years ago

Managing diabetes while competing must have been incredibly challenging.

6
Daniel commented Daniel 3 years ago

The transformation from seeing flaws as ugly to seeing them as beautiful is powerful.

8
Flow-With_Nature_01 commented Flow-With_Nature_01 3 years ago

I can relate to feeling like you need to be perfect in everything you do.

3
Allyson-Clarke commented Allyson-Clarke 3 years ago

The detail about writing in a journal really stuck with me. Such a simple but powerful tool.

2
NovaM commented NovaM 3 years ago

Anyone else working on being more self-compassionate? It's a daily practice for me.

6
GravitySeeker commented GravitySeeker 3 years ago

The author's resilience is inspiring. Managing all these challenges takes incredible strength.

3
TaylorLynn commented TaylorLynn 4 years ago

This reminds me to be gentler with myself in my own journey.

3
HannahLewis commented HannahLewis 4 years ago

It's interesting how something meant to help with physical health affected mental health.

5
FuturisticRebel commented FuturisticRebel 4 years ago

The impact of stigma on recovery is real. We need to do better as a society.

4
LorelaiS commented LorelaiS 4 years ago

This story shows how important it is to address mental health early on.

2
Eloise-Caldwell commented Eloise-Caldwell 4 years ago

I think more people need to hear about the reality of living with multiple health conditions.

6
Demi_Hope commented Demi_Hope 4 years ago

The author's journey from self-criticism to self-compassion gives me hope.

6
JulietteM commented JulietteM 4 years ago

It's encouraging to hear that recovery is possible with the right support and treatment.

2
Arabella-Gonzalez commented Arabella-Gonzalez 4 years ago

I never thought about how being judged in sports could affect someone's whole mindset.

2
RetroRebel commented RetroRebel 4 years ago

The connection between negative thinking and depression is so important to understand.

3
MayaWest commented MayaWest 4 years ago

Learning to accept ourselves as we are is such a crucial part of mental health recovery.

1
OReilly_Opinion commented OReilly_Opinion 4 years ago

The pressure to be perfect in competitive sports can be overwhelming. I've been there.

4
SkylarFoster commented SkylarFoster 4 years ago

I appreciate how the article addresses both physical and mental health challenges.

6
BryanH commented BryanH 4 years ago

Managing multiple health conditions must require incredible strength and resilience.

1
LaylaK commented LaylaK 4 years ago

The author's perspective on flaws is beautiful. We're all perfectly imperfect.

8
VelocityVibes commented VelocityVibes 4 years ago

Has anyone else found CBT helpful? I'm considering trying it.

7
InfinityEcho commented InfinityEcho 4 years ago

It's refreshing to see someone discuss both the benefits and challenges of competitive sports.

1
Isla commented Isla 4 years ago

The idea of retraining your brain through journaling is powerful. I might try that.

8
Raelynn_Magic commented Raelynn_Magic 4 years ago

Sometimes the things we love can hurt us if we're not careful with our approach to them.

4
LunarEclipseX commented LunarEclipseX 4 years ago

I love how figure skating started as a way to manage diabetes but became a passion, despite its challenges.

1
InfinityLoop commented InfinityLoop 4 years ago

The author's journey reminds me that recovery isn't linear. It takes time and patience.

4
Heidi-Barrett commented Heidi-Barrett 4 years ago

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness as a child must be incredibly difficult to process.

6
AvaThomas commented AvaThomas 4 years ago

This story perfectly illustrates how mental and physical health are interconnected.

6
Success-Starts_Within_17 commented Success-Starts_Within_17 4 years ago

I'm curious about how others practice self-compassion in their daily lives. Any tips?

4
Maisie_Rain commented Maisie_Rain 4 years ago

The progression from self-criticism to depression to psychosis is scary but important to understand.

6
Serotonin_Seeker_42 commented Serotonin_Seeker_42 4 years ago

Actually, I think sports can be great for mental health when approached with the right mindset and support.

5
ZeroDystopiaX commented ZeroDystopiaX 4 years ago

I found myself nodding along when reading about the constant self-criticism. It becomes such a habit.

1
The-BalancedMind_101 commented The-BalancedMind_101 4 years ago

The author's experience shows how childhood experiences can shape our adult mental health in unexpected ways.

6
SkylarHansen commented SkylarHansen 4 years ago

It's important to note that medication played a role in recovery. Sometimes we need both medical and therapeutic support.

1
NamasteEveryday commented NamasteEveryday 4 years ago

Self-compassion is harder than it sounds. I've been trying for years and still catch myself being overly critical.

6
MindsetShifter commented MindsetShifter 4 years ago

Managing diabetes alone would be challenging enough, let alone adding competitive sports and mental health struggles.

4
UrbanKnight commented UrbanKnight 4 years ago

I wonder how many other athletes struggle with similar issues but never speak up about it.

2
ColetteH commented ColetteH 4 years ago

The way the author describes self-compassion as a practice rather than a destination really resonates with me.

2
EveX commented EveX 4 years ago

Does anyone else find it fascinating how the brain can shift from depression to psychosis? The mind is incredibly complex.

2
Inner-Peace_InMotion commented Inner-Peace_InMotion 4 years ago

I think it's brave to discuss psychosis so openly. We need more conversations about serious mental health conditions.

1
Sorkin_Summary commented Sorkin_Summary 4 years ago

The detail about medical transcription training adding stress makes sense. Sometimes we don't realize we're at our limit until we break.

7
Naomi_Fantasy commented Naomi_Fantasy 4 years ago

This reminds me of my own journey with perfectionism. It's exhausting trying to meet impossible standards.

2
JaydenCooper commented JaydenCooper 4 years ago

Not sure I agree with the parents' approach. Pushing a child into sports right after a diabetes diagnosis seems overwhelming.

1
Siegel_Summary commented Siegel_Summary 4 years ago

The combination of physical and mental health challenges really shows how interconnected our wellbeing is.

4
TechNomad101 commented TechNomad101 4 years ago

I've always wondered about the psychological impact of subjective sports like figure skating on young athletes.

1
NeonHorizon commented NeonHorizon 4 years ago

Thank you for sharing this vulnerable story. It helps others feel less alone in their struggles.

3
EpicDreamerX commented EpicDreamerX 4 years ago

Writing in a journal seems like such a simple solution but I can see how it could help reshape thinking patterns.

2
Salma99 commented Salma99 4 years ago

The link between depression and psychosis was eye-opening. I had no idea untreated depression could lead to such serious consequences.

0
ZeroHourX commented ZeroHourX 4 years ago

I disagree that competitive sports necessarily lead to negative self-image. Many athletes thrive under pressure and judgment.

2
NeonVibes commented NeonVibes 4 years ago

The author's perspective on imperfect beauty is something we should all embrace. Nobody's perfect, and that's what makes us unique.

7
Tessa_Light commented Tessa_Light 4 years ago

I agree about the stigma of mental illness in media. The news really does tend to focus on negative stories rather than recovery and success.

2
Aria_Williams commented Aria_Williams 4 years ago

It's remarkable how the author managed both diabetes and competitive skating. That must have required incredible discipline.

1
Amira-Fox commented Amira-Fox 4 years ago

Learning to be self-compassionate is definitely a journey. I'm still working on it myself.

4
Sepinwall_Story commented Sepinwall_Story 4 years ago

The stigma around mental health issues is still so prevalent today. We need more stories like this to help break down those barriers.

6
SelfLove_Club_07 commented SelfLove_Club_07 4 years ago

While I understand the author's journey, I think competitive sports can actually build confidence rather than tear it down. It really depends on the individual and their support system.

0
CameronFerguson commented CameronFerguson 4 years ago

The part about cognitive behavioral therapy really caught my attention. I've been considering trying it myself.

7
ScarletR commented ScarletR 4 years ago

I find it interesting that figure skating was initially chosen to help with diabetes management but ended up contributing to mental health challenges.

3
VioletRoss commented VioletRoss 4 years ago

What struck me most was how the author transformed their perspective about flaws being part of their beauty. It's such a powerful mindset shift.

3
Belloni_Blog commented Belloni_Blog 4 years ago

The connection between competitive figure skating and mental health is fascinating. I never considered how being constantly judged could affect someone's self-image so deeply.

1
Leslie-Hart commented Leslie-Hart 4 years ago

I appreciate the author sharing their journey with type 1 diabetes. It must have been incredibly challenging to deal with that at such a young age.

3
Serena commented Serena 4 years ago

This article really resonates with me. I've struggled with self-criticism too and it's amazing how much impact negative self-talk can have on our mental health.

3

Get Free Access To Our Publishing Resources

Independent creators, thought-leaders, experts and individuals with unique perspectives use our free publishing tools to express themselves and create new ideas.

Start Writing

Trending Tags

#
Lifestyle Hacks
#
Entertainment
#
Mind & Body
#
Friends & Family
#
Fashion & Style
#
Beauty & Makeup
#
Styling Outfits
#
Opinions Matter
#
Home Decor