How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Here's what's happening on the HealthyPlace site this week:

• How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Video: Why People Don't Talk About Mental Health
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Comparing yourself to others is harmful to your mental health, yet many of us measure at least part of our self-worth against other people. Comparing ourselves to other people robs us of a sense of joy in who we are and the lives we live. A 2006 study¹ showed that comparison to others is connected to unhappiness, guilt, envy, regret, lying, and blame (Comparing Yourself to Others While Coping with Depression).

To stop comparing yourself to others, try these tips:

• Be mindful. When your thoughts wander to what others are doing, shift those thoughts to what you are doing.
• Revel in your own big picture. What are you doing in your life that makes you happy and proud?
• Stay out of your danger zone. Social media has been shown to increase anxiety and depression. Locally, there might be places and people that cause you to ruminate over unhealthy comparisons. Replace them with people and places that are encouraging.
• Reflect on your personal values. When you know why you live for what you do, the process of taking action to achieve your goals becomes less about others and more about you and your own life.

To stop comparing yourself to others, keep your focus on yourself. Then, you're likely to create your own mental health and wellbeing.

¹White, J.B., Langer, E.J., Leeat, Y., & Welch, J.C. (2006, March). Frequent social comparisons and destructive emotions and behaviors: The dark side of social comparisons. Journal of Adult Development, 13(1), 36-44. Doi: 10.1007/s10804-006-9005-0

Related Articles Dealing with Comparison

• Stop Comparing Yourself to Others to Improve Self-Esteem
• Comparison, Competition, and Eating Disorders
• Do You Compare Yourself to Others? (video)

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: Have you tried to stop comparing yourself to others? How has that worked out? We invite you to participate by commenting and sharing your feelings, experiences and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page.

From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• Dropping Out of College Because of Depression and Anxiety
• Why the Holidays Cause Bipolar Mood Instability
• Building Your “Toolbox” for Bad Days
• Staying Sober During the Holidays
• Don’t Let Stigma Make You Dishonest About Your Mental Illness
• The Secrecy of Binge Eating Disorder
• Why Bipolar Medication Changes Suck
• Decreasing Sugar Intake in Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder
• Manage Panic Attacks in Borderline Personality Disorder
• Anxiety in the Adult Years: Anxiety Can Happen Any Age
• Mental Illness Relapse — When Not to Go Home for the Holidays
• Drug Abuse vs. Drug Experimentation: There Is a Difference
• Hope in Eating Disorder Recovery — The Vital Key

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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From HealthyPlace YouTube Channel

Why People Don't Talk About Mental Health

Why is it so hard to talk about mental health? Why is it so hard to come forward with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety? These are reasonable questions with a reasonable answer. .

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. How to Choose a Good Psychiatrist
2. Depression… Will It Ever End?
3. Stop Being Too Hard on Yourself

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Mental Health Quote

"I will breathe. I will think of solutions, I will not let my worry control me. I will not let my stress level break me. I will simply breathe. And it will be okay. Because I don't quit". ~ Shayne McClendon

Read more mental health quotes.

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