Setting the Intention to Heal

In this video, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch shows why the first step in mental health recovery is "setting the intention to heal." Setting the intention to heal means making the decision to get well--even if you don't know how your healing will occur.

Setting the intention to heal involves writing an "intention statement." This a mental blueprint of how your life would look and feel like if you were whole and well. The intention statement can be any length. The Important thing is to write your vision of wellness down and look at it every day, even if your healing seems like a distant reality. Focusing on your intention statement will attract the people, the circumstances, and the treatments that can lead you to your depression recovery.

To get a free color diagram containing 50 self-care activities to improve your mood, visit my personal website

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To listen to the audiobook version of my book of affirmations, Words That Heal, on Audible go to:

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[thatdutchguy]

I said to myself that i want to change my life and i really meant it so i often remind myself of the moment i made that decision.

[JayhAych]

I have PTSD and ADHD, and I’ve spent the last several months in the worst depressive episode of my life thus far. It’s made it nearly impossible to work and provide for myself, let alone my family.

I have a therapist who is very good, and a good support network. I’m very thankful for them.

That said, I stumbled on your channel last night and this is the first actionable piece of information I’ve come across that really clicked with me and made sense.

Just wanted to say thank you for sharing, and for all the work you do. It’s invaluable.

[Mannsy]

I plan on doing psilocybin and TMS.. hoping one of those can help as I don't want to do ECT

[SK-ldpl]

Thank you Mr Bloch. You always provide excellent advice in a calm friendly tone. You have a special light that beams through 💫

[Contessa]

Merry Christmas Eve to you and Joan and kitty 🐱. Thanks for all your hard work and devotion to your channel. It’s so helpful for so many myself included. God bless, happy holidays. 🎄 🌲 🧑‍🎄

[paul]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. I am setting the intention to heal.

[AudriusAlkauskas]

Your message and your voice are very soothing. Happy holidays, Douglas!

[gregl]

Thanks for all the videos, very much appreciated!

[pmbluemoon]

Merry Christmas Douglas, thank you for all you do 😊

[chris]

Recently started listening to your helpful videos to get me back on track, many thanks Douglas for your sound advice and best wishes to anyone else out there struggling ❤

[veggiemetal]

Hi Doug. It has taken me a long time to even begin to get my feet off the ground with my vision statement. I've been on and off with this habit before and I find it to be one of the hardest to maintain. (For a few reasons). Today I finally started jotting down a few words, so that's a start. I hope we can have our video chat before you're off to Costa Rica.

[wilsonbarbosa]

Mr. Douglas, how are you doing? I've been watching your videos and following my own treatment for depression.

First of all thank you for your constant work and help to people who struggle against mental illnesses.

I understand that not everybody is the same, but I want to ask you something about the medicines you took over the years. Did you had to change your medications constantly? Did they lose their effect on you with time? I ask you because I had to change mine because it wasn't working anymore. I feel scared of having a new depressive episode (I'm coming out of my second in life) and I feel that one day the treatment won't be enough to handle the stress based on past experiences.

I also tried therapy a couple of times, but never found a therapist to really connect with. How important is this approach in the process of healing?

[wolfblitzer]

Thanks Douglas and happy Christmas 🎅🎅🎅