Mental Health

While talking about mental health can make people self-conscious or worried that there’s something wrong with them, one way to think about it is that it is essentially the same as physical health. When you think about it this way, it’s easy to understand how being mentally healthy can include connecting with friends, and pursuing fun hobbies the same way being physically healthy can include drinking enough water and getting exercise. When we don’t take steps to stay mentally or physically healthy, we can start feeling bad and getting sick.

When our thoughts and feelings are upsetting us, it can feel overwhelming and like it’s never going to get better. Getting lost in the “what if” line of thinking can make uncomfortable feelings worse, so it’s important to practice noticing when you’re getting upset so you can take steps to take care of yourself. One tool that can help you get out of your head and back into the present moment is to do a grounding exercise. These can be adapted to fit your preferences and you can even make up your own. The essentially involve noticing your body and what’s going on around you.

If you’re at a point where you’re feeling bad or unlike your old self, it’s better to try to get support sooner rather than later. Anxiety symptoms can start in elementary school and many people with depression report their symptoms started in middle school. Experiencing a significant challenge or trauma symptoms can happen at any age and the sooner you can get support, the more likely you are to be able to process what happened and figure out healthy ways to cope.

It’s important to remember that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of because it is a medical problem, just like heart disease or diabetes. With the help of counseling, peer support and sometimes medication (not always), the vast majority of individuals living with a mental health diagnosis continue to function in their daily lives. If you want to speak to someone about all treatment options available to you, please contact us directly.