One of the things that we want to talk about, that we don’t believe is talked about enough, is going to be mental health. Mental health is one of those things that you hear about all of the time, but you don’t often hear about the struggles people are going through. The only time you will see this on social media is when someone has been brave enough to share their journey, even though there are going to be internet trolls out there who feel the need to judge.
The important thing to know is that there is nothing wrong with talking about mental health. It’s actually very encouraging to know that other people are having hard times just like you, and that you are not an anomaly. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you should know, so we’re going to be talking about mental health, baby. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.
Don’t be ashamed
First, it’s important for you to understand that there is nothing to be ashamed of. We all struggle from time to time with our mental health, some more severely than others, and some more often than others. Your struggle doesn’t need to be compared to someone else’s struggle to be valid, and you should not be ashamed of your feelings. We know that we live in a culture where people are told that they should just get on with it, and that the only time people seem to care about mental health is when someone dies, but this narrative needs to change. It can’t change when people are still so afraid to speak out though.
Did you know that a large percentage of teenagers and young people hide the way that they are feeling because they are worried about their parents’ reactions? It’s essential that we start talking about mental health in the same way as we talk about physical health so that this stops.
Admitting There Is An Issue Is The First Step
It can be very difficult to admit that you are struggling with your mental health, even to yourself. You might notice some symptoms but decide to write them off because this is easier than dealing with the fact that you are not feeling what you think you should be. Some people just push it to the back of their minds, try to throw themselves into work or school depending on what they are currently doing in life, and try to get through without even acknowledging it. The problem with this is that you are only giving it time to worsen if you are ignoring it.
Dealing with the issue is the only thing that is going to make you feel better, not pretending that it doesn’t exist in the first place. It might take some time, but once you can admit that there is a problem with the way that you feel, that’s when you can start progressing forward and helping yourself.
Asking For Help Makes You Strong
A lot of people in today’s society seem to think that asking for help makes you weak, but the opposite is true. Asking for help is what makes you strong. It’s what shows that you are aware of how you are feeling, you are aware that it is an issue that is only going to continue getting worse, and you are aware that you need help. Like any physical injury, mental health problems and conditions can be extremely difficult and painful to live with. You wouldn’t walk around with a broken leg because you felt weak to go and get checked out by a doctor, would you? The same should be true for mental health.
The argument that a lot of people make is that you can’t see mental health problems, but that makes them no less real. The brain is a physical entity, and that is physical enough for those people who struggle to understand that mental health should be treated equal to physical.
Work To Change Your Thought Patterns
Your thought patterns will make up a massive part of your mental health. In fact, there is a specialist kind of therapy that is dedicated to changing the way that you view certain things and the way that your mind processes pieces of information, but this should only be used if you need help. There are some thought processes that you will be able to handle on your own, you just need to slow down and think carefully. You need to evaluate the negative thoughts that you have and work out why you feel that way. Some of these thoughts are going to be completely unproductive and unreasonable, and that is a huge problem that needs addressing.
If you can change the way that you are thinking about things, then you will be able to change the way that you react to things. This is a massive step in taking care of your mental health, and one that you should be proud to take.
Take Care Of Yourself Physically
Mental and physical health are pretty closely linked no matter what anyone says. Your mental health impacts your physical health, and your physical health impacts your mental health. As such, if you want to take care of yourself mentally, you have also got to take care of yourself physically. Think about whether or not you are eating a balanced diet, think about how much exercise you are completing, think about how much sleep you are getting and so much more.
It’s best if you don’t drink to excess or take any kind of drugs as these are not good for your physical or mental health. The more that you put into taking care of yourself, the better results that you are going to see. You can’t have one without the other, so taking care of both is going to be essential.
Understanding What You Can And Cannot Control
In life, there are things that you can control and things that you cannot control. The reason that a lot of people end up suffering in their own mind is because they are either stressed out about the things that they cannot control, or they blame themselves for something that happened that was out of their control. Now, this is not always true, but it is the case for a lot of people. It’s important that you are taking the time to understand what you can and what you cannot control. The only thing that you are ever going to have 100% control over is you, and that means that the only person that you should ever feel accountable for is yourself. You cannot control the way that other people act, and you cannot place the blame on yourself for things that other people do.
We know that it’s tough, and this is especially true if you have been through this with a master manipulator or a narcissist, but you have got to understand that it wasn’t your fault. You can only place blame on yourself for things that you have done, nobody else.
Speak To Other People Who Understand
The final thing that we are going to say is that you should consider talking to other people who understand how you are feeling. Mental health is complex, and there are a lot of different areas, meaning that you might not be experiencing the same thing as someone else with mental health problems. We all cope in different ways and we all process in different ways, react to things in different ways and so no. Even though this is the case, speaking to people who have been through the same kinds of things that you have, or that feel similar to you may be extremely helpful. For example, you can look into finding group therapy for survivors of sexual assault to get the help that you need, and also to meet other people in your position.
You are completely in control of this, and you should never share your story or feelings with strangers if you don’t want to. However, a lot of people find it really comforting to know that there are others out there, and getting to talk to them makes it feel all the more real.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you need to know when it comes to mental health. It’s okay to talk about mental health freely, even if there is still an unfair stigma that is attached to it. It’s time that we all started to be more open about the fact that there are times where we all struggle, and that is completely okay. There is no reason that you should ever feel like you should have to hide what you are going through, and anyone who isn’t supportive of you doesn’t deserve a place in your life.
