Under Construction - MHWA Retreat

Self Control


Many people with mental illness struggle with personal control. From anger management to impulse control issues to a general lack of motivation, let's talk about our own control issues.

Questions to think about:
What are some self-control issues you've struggled with? Anger? Impulsive behaviors? Focus? Motivation? I struggle with impulsive behaviors. I often do impulsive things without planning and find that I become very tired quickly and lose interest. I also have a hard time focusing on the task at hand and want to hurry through several things at once. This causes anxiety and that is sometimes hard to deal with. I have to consciously tell myself to “calm down, slow down.” This helps a great deal. Anxiety is something I contend me daily.

Are there any warning signs or triggers that you're going to have a lapse in self-control?

The warning signs for me are overdoing, getting nervous or feeling anxious and feeling overwhelmed with too much to do. When I can, I slow down, take a break and then feel better.

What actions have you taken to regulate your emotions or regain control of yourself? What has worked and what hasn't? The actions I have taken to regulate my emotions or regain control of myself are first praying to God, calming down and slowing down, engaging in deep breathing exercises and listening to soft music. All of these actions have helped.