Have you ever felt like your thoughts are racing a mile a minute, your chest is tight, and you just seem to catch your breath? Or maybe you’ve felt so low and hopeless that getting out of bed seems like an insurmountable task? Well, these are just a few examples of what some of us have experienced throughout our lives. But this resumes to one concept – our mental health!
Mental health – a subject that has been considered taboo for too long!
Let’s face it – so much stigma has been surrounding it over the years. So, it was easier not to talk about it or even pretend to ignore it. However, we all know that this is not the way to go when it comes to mental health because to be healthy and stable, we need to understand our triggers exactly and how we can be in control of our emotional health.
For starters, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It also dictates how we manage stress, anxiety, or other mental health aspects. Being the home of our feelings and thoughts, taking care of our brain, and maintaining good mental health is crucial for our overall well-being. And it’s our responsibility to acknowledge and try our best to be well.
In this day and age, the significant role that technology and social platforms play in shaping our mental well-being cannot be overlooked.
It is no secret that social media can act as a trigger, impacting any of us. It is important to acknowledge that mental health challenges are complex and can present obstacles that affect our ability to move forward.
And, unfortunately, mental health problems are increasingly prevalent, not just among adults but also among young people. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), at least 20% of Americans will experience at least one mental illness in a given year, whether it is anxiety, PTSD, or depression. Even more so, 4% of Americans live with severe mental issues – schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or major depression.
There’s no doubt that there has been an increase in people suffering from mental illnesses. Simultaneously with this, there has also been a growth in the awareness surrounding it. But although we might be aware of the possible presence of such issues, rarely do we ever know how prevalent they are in our lives.
One increasingly reported mental state problem is depression.
This mental health condition that has a profound impact on our well-being can manifest in various ways, such as feeling trapped, helpless, drowning in a sea of sadness, or overwhelmed. But be careful – it’s important to distinguish feelings of sadness, grief, or loss from depression.
Experiencing difficult situations, such as the loss of a loved one or the end of a relationship, is a natural aspect of the human experience. However, those hard feelings come in waves, but in depression, they are stuck with us. Unlike grief, which can be accompanied by positive memories of the person or experience we’ve lost, depression often involves a sense of guilt, worthlessness, and low self-esteem. These negative thoughts and feelings can make it difficult to see anything positive and can significantly impact our wish to live or do anything productive with our lives.
As with most experiences in life, depression affects everyone differently. It can impact our motivation and willingness to communicate, leading to changes in our schedules and routines. We may lose interest in activities we once enjoyed and experience disruptions to our sleep schedule. This lack of sleep can then affect our ability to concentrate, leading to feelings of guilt and worthlessness.
Another major condition that is gaining notoriety is anxiety.
Recent studies show that anxiety affects over 30% of the adult population at some point in their life. In some cases, anxiety can be the natural reaction to fear and stress, making your body stay alert. But, for me, the anxiety felt paralyzing. The calm before the storm was the moment in which all I could hear was my heart racing in my chest.
Anxiety refers to the anticipation of a stressful event in the future. This can lead to overthinking every step of the way and, eventually, us avoiding every situation that we would think would end up unpleasant or harmful.
There are more types of anxiety disorders, and this could be Generalized Anxiety Disorder when we are stressing over activities daily. Panic disorder is when we feel lightheaded, dizzy, our hearts pumping, numb, or we can also feel hot and cold. In the anxiety spectrum, we can find social anxiety, specific phobias, or separation anxiety disorder. The last one means that we are scared and stressed when we are separated from the ones that we love.
It’s essential to recognize that each person’s experience is valid and unique. We are not always in complete control of our mental health, as external factors such as genetics, early life experiences, medical history, past trauma, and the opinions of others can have a significant impact. And access to quality healthcare is not always within our control.
While there are certain external factors beyond our control, there are also steps we can take to manage our mental health. One of the most crucial steps is to change our perception of mental health and recognize the importance of seeking help. Additionally, we can adopt coping mechanisms and relaxation techniques such as mindfulness and meditation to deal with stress and other challenging situations. Taking control of these factors can make a significant difference in our overall well-being.
Realizing that we have a mental illness can feel different for everybody.
We might feel overwhelmed or maybe relieved that we now know what is affecting us. But how do we know that something is harming our mental health?
We can start by noticing if any changes have occurred and how they have impacted us. We can also observe if our regular habits and routines have been affected. While it’s common to experience feelings of sadness, stress, or being overwhelmed, it’s essential to recognize when these emotions are becoming a daily occurrence. Everyone faces challenging circumstances at some point, but learning healthy coping mechanisms can help us navigate these difficulties and maintain our mental well-being.
But when you do start realizing that this might be deeper than just feeling the effects of unpleasant weather (be honest – we all feel gloomy when outside is raining), it might be recommended to seek professional help. We all rely on our friends when things start going badly, but a therapist might actually help us navigate through our challenges and identify patterns that might contribute to our struggles. And, a therapist will also be able to provide us with (healthy) coping mechanisms and strategies to help us manage our symptoms.
However, we know – therapy is expensive! And not all of us can afford to pay for each session. For this reason, there are several things we can do by ourselves to improve our mental health and well-being, including mindfulness and meditation. Mindfulness is a powerful tool that can aid in the healing of both our bodies and minds. By working with our inner selves, we become stronger and better equipped to handle the daily stresses of life. This practice promotes a safe and nurturing environment, ultimately benefiting our hearts and overall well-being. Drawn from the Buddhist tradition of meditation, mindfulness offers a valuable means of cultivating greater strength and resilience while also reducing stress levels.
Establishing a routine can also be beneficial for our mental health. It doesn’t have to be anything grandiose. Starting with simple tasks such as making our bed every morning, going for walks, or exercising can make a significant difference.
Another great way to maintain our mental health is by journaling and writing down our feelings and thoughts. This can help us gain a better understanding of what our minds are telling us. If we’re not ready to talk about our feelings with others, writing them down can encourage us to be more open and help us recognize the experiences we are going through.
It’s important to recognize that mental health issues won’t simply disappear if we choose to ignore them. So, it’s essential to take action and seek assistance if necessary. And don’t ever be ashamed of dealing with a mental illness! They do not define you.
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