How to Manage Mental Health Based on Your Enneagram
Have you been curious to know what your personality type is, but there are so many tests out there that you don’t know which one to take? One option is the enneagram. 1
What Exactly is The Enneagram?
The Enneagram is made up of nine different personality types. You can easily determine your number by simply taking The Enneagram test.
At first, you might not like your number. As you learn more about the great things your number represents you will understand how you can use it as a tool. Although some numbers may seem more desirable to you, there is no number that’s better than another. Just like you are multifaceted, so is your Enneagram. While your number is the type you most identify with you also have “wings. Your Enneagram wings are the numbers on each side of your main Enneagram type 2 that you also identify with.
What Do I Do Now That I Know My Enneagram?
Once you’ve identified your number, you will become more aware of how those characteristics show up in your life. You can research all kinds of podcasts and books that will help you understand your type better. Here are a few:
- Every summer podcaster Annie F. Downs goes through each Enneagram type in a fun and enlightening way in her podcast “That Sounds Fun”.
- “The Road Back to You” by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile is a book that helps you further explore why you may be stuck in the same ruts and how to get out of them based on your Enneagram type.
Now that you know where your strengths and weaknesses are, it’s time to grow in these areas.
The Healthy and Unhealthy Version of Your Enneagram Type
One of the reasons it’s so fun to know which type you are is that you can strive to be a “healthy” version of that number. Each number has an unhealthy and a healthy side. Take type twos, for example, they are considered the helper, caring, generous, and people-pleasing type. When type twos are healthy, they love the people in their life unconditionally. On the other hand, when they’re unhealthy they feel as though others owe them something in return for the love that they’ve given. They can also be domineering and coercive. It’s important to understand these pitfalls of your type so you can avoid them and grow as a person.
Growing Mentally By Knowing Your Enneagram
Now that you know your Enneagram type, it’s time to learn how to use it to improve your mental wellness. Keep reading to discover how you can better manage your mental health based on how each Enneagram type responds to mental wellness.
Every Enneagrams Three Identifiers
Every enneagram type has three major identifiers that help you understand why you function the way you do. Each type has a key motivation; a basic desire, and a basic fear. The key motivation is what drives us to do everything in life. It’s important to understand these motivations, desires, and fears about your type.
How the Enneagram Type 1 Can Manage Their Mental Health
- Plan to be by yourself or someone you trust that won’t put any pressure on you for a whole night. Let the other person plan the night so that you don’t feel any pressure to do something exactly the right way.
- Plan a time to follow up with someone if you’ve asked them to get a task done for you instead of holding a grudge. Give them the time to get a task done and trust that they will do it. Remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect.
- Don’t feel guilty for taking time away from your to-do list. Ask someone else for help, so that not all the pressure is on you to do your tasks perfectly. It’s okay to not have every single task on your to-do list done at all times. The world will still go on if you are not in control.
- Take the pressure off of yourself by remembering that those around you are not going to be as critical towards you as you are towards yourself. You are your own worst critic.
- Start journaling your emotions and sharing your thoughts with people you trust so you can get used to the idea that not everyone is going to be as critical towards you as you think.
- Try doing tasks where you follow a common routine. This is something you know you can control because you’ve already done it a million times. This can be something like cooking, going for a bike ride, or knitting.
How the Enneagram Type 2 Can Manage Their Mental Health
- Remember that it’s perfectly okay to focus on your own needs, rather than others. You’re not going to be able to help others if you don’t help yourself first.
- When you decide to help someone, do it anonymously so that you don’t have the desire to be recognized by them or expect a “thank you” from them.
- Verbalize often how thankful you are for everything in your life. Focusing on gratitude brings a sense of lighthearted energy to someone who tends to be hard on themselves
- Journal these thankful thoughts so that you can be sure you’re not saying anything for anybody else’s approval.
- Spend time painting or creating something that brings you joy. It’s really hard for twos to ask for help themselves, but remember your mental health is a priority.
How the Enneagram Type 3 Can Manage Their Mental Health
Set out a time each week where you don’t do anything but relax. It’s good to be able to be alone without striving to be and do everything.
Even though it’s really hard for you to share your true feelings, be honest with people.
If you play sports or any other competitive activity, make it a priority to congratulate others rather than trying to bring all of the attention to you. This will change your mindset to be genuinely happy for others, rather than harboring anger.
Take on a hobby that you genuinely enjoy, rather than one that you imagine will bring you praise and affection.
Learn to trust those in your life who’ve proven to be faithful. They care about you and want to hear your thoughts and feelings.
How the Enneagram Type 4 Can Manage Their Mental Health
- What you feel is not a lie, it is simply what you feel. Understanding what triggered the feeling is key to improving outcomes.
- Conquer each day as it comes. Don’t focus so much on the future or what could happen, it will work itself out when you get there.
- Keep an agenda and write down all the tasks you’re going to complete that day, and don’t put it off until the next day. Don’t make excuses for why you weren’t able to complete your tasks, because it’ll leave you feeling stressed.
- Remember that you do have a place in this world. You are loved, so don’t be hard on yourself.
- Remember that you’re not going to live out your imagination. Focus on what’s here and now.
- Delete social media if you feel like you have a hard time controlling thoughts of comparison.
How the Enneagram Type 5 Can Manage Their Mental Health
- Ask someone you trust if you’re overthinking a certain topic. Let them help you decipher if you should be spending so much time and energy thinking
- Find healthy activities that help you relax, so that you can take your mind off life’s difficult topics. You don’t need to solve world hunger by yourself.
- Try yoga or meditating, so that you can practice slowing down your mind.
- Learn how to give yourself breaks. Force yourself to do this by setting reminders on your phone or scheduling breaks for you to give your mind a rest.
- Try letting at least one person you genuinely trust into your life. Avoid the urge to isolate yourself from others.
- It’s okay to not know everything. Set aside time where you brainstorm about the different tasks in your life. Then make sure you take action.
How the Enneagram Type 6 Can Manage Their Mental Health
Remember that people care about you the same way that you care about them. They’re not trying to hurt you, they want to help you.
Journal how you feel rather than getting angry at others for something they may not have done.
Whenever you have an anxious thought, capture that thought immediately and remember that you are going to be okay.
Find the confidence in yourself that other people see so easily. It’s okay to trust that they really do enjoy being around you.
Remember that you’re not alone in your anxiety. Other people get anxious too, you will be okay.
Find a hobby where you can channel your anxious energy.
Write down everything that makes you special in a journal. Reminding yourself what you have to offer to others is empowering and can help you see your true value.
How the Enneagram Type 7 Can Manage Their Mental Health
- Remember that you can find contentment in the mundane. You don’t have to be busy all the time to feel fulfilled.
- Find a way to figure out your thoughts and emotions. If you push back your feelings for too long you will explode.
- Sit in silence rather than always having someone around you or always having the TV playing in the background. This can be a good practice in figuring out your thoughts and feelings.
- Try to recognize your impulsive behavior, and find ways to channel this energy into a task that’s going to be meaningful.
- Practice appreciating other people’s lifestyles. Being a good listener and a good cheerleader to someone else rather than you being the center of attention can help you realize that other people’s lives are exciting and adventurous too.
How the Enneagram Type 8 Can Manage Their Mental Health
- Remember that you don’t always have to be the leader. When you realize that others have important thoughts to contribute, you open up a whole new world of thoughts and ideas.
- Be a good listener and genuinely try to see their side. Others may help you grow as a person.
- Know that you have the power to help those in need, and this is such a special quality.
- Let others help you instead of being the one that tries to help others at all times.
- Know that it’s okay to not have control over every situation. It will work itself out, so take a break instead of trying to take on too much.
- Take pride in the loyalty that you display to those in your life. They really appreciate it.
How the Enneagram Type 9 Can Manage Their Mental Health
- Go out of your comfort zone, so that you can see that it’s going to be okay if life gets hard. You will find your inner peace again.
- Make a to-do list and follow through with it, so that you do not get in a situation where you feel uneasy that you did not complete your tasks.
- Remember that others don’t control your life. You have the power to make your own decisions. People will still love you if you speak your mind.
- Find ways to let out your hidden anger, so that you don’t let it out on those who you care about. Practice sharing those thoughts so that you don’t become angry in the first place.
- Make your home a relaxing and peaceful place where you feel like you can truly rest. After a long day of stepping out of your comfort zone, it’s good to know you have a place where everything will feel comfortable.
Another Helpful Tip: Neurofeedback
Now that you know how each enneagram number can combat mental health, it’s also helpful to understand how neurofeedback can help you. For example, type sixes tend to be anxious and overthink in a lot of areas of their life. Neurofeedback can help improve anxious symptoms, like excessive worry. Another example is type five. They tend to feel unbalanced and jittery. Neurofeedback can help type fives feel calm and at peace.
There may be other mental health concerns that you’re struggling with. Neurofeedback can help people with ADHD, depression, insomnia, and so much more. Neurofeedback is a simple and painless process that helps your brainwaves better regulate by using operant conditioning. You will go through a series of sessions based on what’s right for you, and over time your brain will learn to regulate properly.
When people have dysregulated brains they suffer physical and emotional pain, life is hard and relationships are damaged. At SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training we empower people by providing neurofeedback services and systems that help the brain regulate because everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.
What is Neurofeedback?
The brain has a natural desirable pattern that it wants to meet. Sometimes the pattern becomes dysregulated. When brain waves are dysregulated people experience brain fog, a loss of focus, and are less motivated to do what they love.
Neurofeedback uses positive reinforcement to train brain waves to operate more efficiently.
SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training provides neurofeedback services. The process is simple. It starts with a qEEG brain map to record your brain waves. SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway’s Case Management Team uses your brain map to create a unique protocol for neurofeedback sessions. You start sessions using the protocol and Neuro-PT (aka Neurofeedback) to help teach your brain to work more efficiently.
How do I Get Started?
It’s easy to get started. Schedule a free consultation, and we’ll walk you through how to get a brain map and then begin your neurofeedback sessions.
For more information about SYMMETRY Neuro-Pathway Training, and the different partnership opportunities, contact us!
