October 10th: World Mental Health Day
It’s great to have a reminder, but in reality, every day is a mental health day. This was never more pertinent than now, 18 months into a pandemic. We seem to be on the verge of a new dawn, but there will certainly still be much to process after all that we’ve undergone.
To aid in this, some healthy habits of mind to foster and maintain include taking time to reflect and to tell our stories – especially the difficult and the painful bits. Understanding ourselves and being understood produces comfort and opens paths to healing. Keep talking. Keep sharing. Keep listening, especially to yourself. What do you need? What do you not need? What have you come to know that needs to be put into motion? What have you come to appreciate that needs to be celebrated and savoured on an on-going basis? What glimpses need to be pursued? What questions still need to be answered?
Before getting too stuck into rushing back into things, notice if they still suit the person emerging. Whatever helps: talking, creating, writing, being in nature, dancing, taking photos etc. etc.- use them to explore, and to heal, you - and thus your family and your friends too.
“I never suspected that I would have to learn how to live” - Millman
Sometimes underlying or dormant issues can rise to the surface and magnify things that might have been unproblematic in ‘normal’ times. It is good to catch these aberrations early because ‘it is a lot easier to stay well, than to try and get well again’.
Being able to resolve issues in calm and safe ways can be enhanced by engaging in psychotherapy. Strong emotions, stress, anxiety, dilemmas and conflicts can be managed, regardless of what is going on. If you are regularly overwhelmed by uncertainty, bothersome thoughts and feelings, self-recrimination and so forth, it is possible to create a state of inner balance that remains, even when things are out of kilter.
Talking and working through things in psychotherapy can aid in the development of greater resilience, the finding of new possibilities, the making of clear decisions and the resolution of conflicts. It can help with confidence and self-esteem; and can ensure lasting change through increased awareness and insight.
