DAY FIVE
THE HARD WAY
As a young adult, I never once thought about mental health as something that needed to be checked up on and maintained like physical health. I assumed that mental illness was something you have or you don’t have. Unless you were not able to function, the average person didn’t need mental health care. Your mind just is what it is and you deal with it. And this is coming from someone who grew up with a mentally ill parent. It was a long time before my own mental and emotional health issues forced me to learn more.
Many of us don’t realize that mental health is something that we all need to know about, not just those directly affected by an illness. Consider it this way: if mental health is a blindspot for you, you could be putting your physical health at risk. For example, if feelings of sadness, grief or stress are being suppressed and not worked through in healthy ways, you can increase your risk of weakening your immune system and becoming more susceptible to disease. That is how strong the link is between the two.
The Mental Health Foundation says:
“Poor physical health can lead to an increased risk of developing mental health problems. Similarly, poor mental health can negatively impact on physical health, leading to an increased risk of some conditions.”
Mental health also affects how we show up at work, in our relationships, in our finances and more. We can learn this the hard way or we can learn this by actively exploring the connections and seeing how they show up in our lives.
make up your mind
In my experience, mental (and emotional) self-care starts with being honest with yourself and knowing that there is nothing you go through that can’t be nurtured and managed. I stopped hiding my shadows and my shame and the stress of it all when I realized that doing so was making me sick and there had to be a better way.
Once you are willing to admit that you’re not okay, healing can begin. Likewise, when you are willing to believe that you can be okay or even better and you’ll do what it takes to get there, then mental wellness can become a way of life.
In some circles, mental wellness is stigmatized just as much as mental illness. You might face criticism for the healthy habits you do to stay well like going to therapy, practicing yoga and meditation, avoiding certain people and places, and staying out of certain conversations. There are exercises in the book that address this and prompt you to explore your truths and convictions so you can be ready to stay the course.
This weekend, please take some time to catch up on emails if you need to and read the comments left so far. We’d love to hear your thoughts and discoveries as well.
reflection questions
What does caring for your mental health look like right now?
What experiences in your life have colored your perspective on mental health?
What emotional patterns do you want to change? What obstacles do you face in making these changes?
What secrets are you keeping that could be affecting your mental and emotional health?
Do you know people who talk openly about their mental health? How does this affect you?