Mental Health Awareness
- Chandra Sievers
- May 12, 2023
- 4 min read
May is Mental Health Awareness month. The country is currently in a mental health crisis and we seem to be struggling to fix it. I think it was already heading in this direction (in large part thanks to social media), but Covid definitely put us over the edge. It’s normal to feel depressed or anxious. These feelings don’t have to be a diagnosis or labeled like a disease. We are lonelier than ever and most people do not have one person in their life that they can be truly honest with. You could be surrounded by people and still be lonely. We are taught to show the highlight reel on social media which has turned into doing the same in our real lives. We spend more time staring at the screens than connecting human to human. Our idea of caring for ourselves is drinking or binging Netflix when these are actually distractions, ways to numb painful or uncomfortable feelings. We end up in this cycle of scrolling and shutting down, harming our brains and then unnecessarily taking medication and eating our feelings, harming our bodies. We are living passively, reacting instead of deciding, always playing “catch up”, trying to fill the voids and the cycle keeps going. We get in our own heads, focus only on ourselves and forget that we are not alone. Besides our outside circumstances, our internal systems also contribute to mental health- the health of our gut, brain, etc.. Did you know that your diet can directly affect your mental health? Whether or not you live an active lifestyle will also have an impact on your mind. Studies have shown now that exercise is just as effective (actually, more) than medication on treating depression and anxiety. Other factors that contribute to depression and anxiety include thyroid condition, vitamin and nutrient deficiencies, unstable blood sugar, alcohol and drug use.
How do we stop it? How do we get out of the victim mentality that is so often glorified? The thoughts and narrative that we cannot control these feelings, accepting it as “how things are”. Get comfortable with silence. Learn the art of meditation. Journal. Practice gratitude. Walk in nature. Personally, I lean into my faith. Actually check in with yourself. What are the stories you tell yourself? What are the thoughts that keep repeating which then cause your feelings? Take control of your thoughts, do not let them control you. Why? Because your thoughts determine your feelings/emotions. Your feelings determine your actions/behaviors. Your actions and behaviors determine your life. You do have control over your thoughts. Do not be a slave to your mind. Help yourself by helping others. Do something nice for someone, give generously. Go out of your way to be kind. Heal your gut. Eat whole, healthy foods. Get sunlight and exercise daily. Learn a new skill or language, give yourself something to focus on that will be good for your brain. Set small goals and give yourself a reason to get out of bed each day. It’s not easy and does take some hard work but isn’t it better to live fully, with energy, vibrance, hope and courage? If you want more energy and hope in your life, but you’re not sure where to start, book a call here. As a coach, I help my clients take a full life inventory, set goals and create actionable steps to ensure they are living the life they were created for - for themselves, for their future, for their children, for their families. You CAN do this. You are capable of living. You are worth more than just surviving. We all need community, people in our lives who will be a positive influence, demonstrate and encourage strength and help us through the days. Never be ashamed to reach out or ask for help.
I do want to add a disclaimer here - I’m not trying to suggest that all mental health issues are easily treated with the lifestyle adjustments mentioned above. There is absolutely a time and a place for medication and there are more serious conditions that require intense treatments. I’m referring more to the over diagnosing of depression and anxiety as diseases or labels, the overmedicating for these very normal feelings. The medications prescribed can actually end up doing more harm than good. I get it, we want a quick fix and it’s encouraged to wear a label like a badge. It’s become trendy to say “I have anxiety, I take medication”.. when the reality is you might just be feeling anxious about that work presentation or you need to exercise, adjust your diet, calm your mind, talk to a trusted therapist or coach, etc.. You have to do what is right for you. I am speaking from a place of much research on the topic and my own personal experience with mental health. There will always be difficult circumstances and problems in our lives, but we get to choose how we respond to them. There is a better way to live than remaining in suffering and you don't have to figure it out alone. -CS
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