Managing Mental Health - Physical and Emotional Wellness
By Kristen Shook, Marketing Specialist Eastern Division
Whether it be due to a job change, family stressors, or other events, everyone has mental health struggles at some point in their life. Although it may be difficult to admit, it is important to do so. There may be fears of being stigmatized or not feeling as if your mental health is ‘bad enough’ to seek help. The intent of this article is to give you a feeling of understanding and encouragement.
As healthcare professionals around the world work to develop more effective recovery practices and interventions, it is crucial to know you are not alone. According to MentalHealth.gov, “In 2020, about one in five American adults experienced a mental health issue.” As we grow through life, our emotions will vary as an automatic physiological response due to our nervous system. However, if you notice your emotional state is heightened most of the time, whether it be sadness, anxiousness, or a general emptiness, it may be time to start looking for ways to address these feelings.
A personal reflective inventory of your emotional state may be due. Here are a few lighthearted questions to think about:
Are you happy with your life and where you are headed?
Are you staying focused on goals and activities or people who bring you joy?
Do you make time for yourself and activities you enjoy?
Do you make time for mindfulness and relaxation?
Do you have an action plan for days you feel down?
The most important question is: are you kind to yourself? In a study published by Psychiatric Quarterly on the power of perception, they found, “participants succeeded in overcoming powerlessness by finding internalized solutions and redefining their mental health experience as transformative." Rather than viewing emotional turbulence as a negative experience and hindrance, begin to ask yourself what you can learn from the experience. If you find this difficult, learning to change your perception and process difficult events and emotions, it may be wise to seek a mental health professional to assist you.
Although seeking help may feel overwhelming, it is such a healthy choice to make. Ask those around you who they may recommend or seek a referral through an anonymous post on social media. Finding the right individual to help you through foggy mental health days may take time and effort, but the results will be rewarding. If you find yourself self-medicating, please seek help with a substance use provider who provides co-occurring treatment.
Mental health impacts everyone; to begin to reduce the stigma, we need to have open and honest conversations. Mental health is health, and we are “Together for Mental Health.”
Sources:
Eads, R., Lee, M. Y., Liu, C., & Yates, N. (2021). The Power of Perception: Lived Experiences with Diagnostic Labeling in Mental Health Recovery without Ongoing Medication Use. Psychiatric Quarterly, 92(3), 889–904. https://doi-org.ezproxy.tscpl.org/10.1007/s11126-020-09866-8