Astra, when I have emotions pressing me close into the corner, I focus on mindfulness and serenity.
Mindfulness, to my understanding, is knowing that my emotions are not myself. I can have unpleasant or unsettling emotions, and for me the trick is to not become too attached to any one emotion -- to experience it, but not to be it. I can feel sad, or happy, or angry, or hurt, or whatever, but the real problem comes when I cling to that emotion -- because that's when it presents the danger of being a self-definition that I may or may not want.
Instead, I find value in observing my emotions -- "Yes, I'm feeling sad, but sadness is not me" -- and then letting those emotions go. They wash through me, and even perhaps over time change me (just as water washes over a rock and slowly shapes it through erosion), but the water is not the rock.
Self-care? Eating well, sleeping well, and exercising is a great recipe. The only thing I'd add to that is including some "me" time -- carve out a little of your schedule simply to do what you like to do, be it nothing, a hobby, some hiking, whatever. That's what works for me. No doubt your mileage will vary, and I'm sorry if this is not very helpful.
Mindfulness, to my understanding, is knowing that my emotions are not myself. I can have unpleasant or unsettling emotions, and for me the trick is to not become too attached to any one emotion -- to experience it, but not to be it. I can feel sad, or happy, or angry, or hurt, or whatever, but the real problem comes when I cling to that emotion -- because that's when it presents the danger of being a self-definition that I may or may not want.
Instead, I find value in observing my emotions -- "Yes, I'm feeling sad, but sadness is not me" -- and then letting those emotions go. They wash through me, and even perhaps over time change me (just as water washes over a rock and slowly shapes it through erosion), but the water is not the rock.
Self-care? Eating well, sleeping well, and exercising is a great recipe. The only thing I'd add to that is including some "me" time -- carve out a little of your schedule simply to do what you like to do, be it nothing, a hobby, some hiking, whatever. That's what works for me. No doubt your mileage will vary, and I'm sorry if this is not very helpful.