There are some pretty simple ways that I take care of my own mental illness.

1. I take my medication daily as prescribed. You can read about that here.

2. I exercise. You can read here what I wrote about walking.

3. I keep my appointments with my psychiatrist and my therapist, and I tell them everything that is going on in my life.

4. I remain sober. I’ve written about the hell of my drinking days here. I plan to write more on the miracle of sobriety.

5. I try to eat wholesome food. This is probably where I fall short, because I think I live on peanut butter.

6. I share what I have learned. I don’t believe that it’s possible for me to remain happy and healthy without helping others. I do it by participating in a 12-step program, through this blog, and by being available to talk heart-to-heart with friends and others.

7. I stay active by reading, being with family and friends, watching educational TV, playing games, laughing, loving, etc.

8. I take care of myself and my apartment. I brush my teeth twice a day. Some days, that’s the only thing I can accomplish, but in my view, if I’ve done at least one nice thing for myself each day, then it is a successful day .

9. I meditate. I’m not a religious nut, but I believe that meditation helps me remain healthy and happy and useful. You can read my entry entitled “My Happy Place” for more on this subject.

10. When I get depressed, I remind myself that it is not a permanent condition. I tell myself that I will eventually feel better. And I say positive things to myself, even if I don’t believe them at the moment.