Mental health is something that people are starting to talk about more nowadays, but few people who have never experienced a mental illness can truly understand it. It’s certainly something that has to be experienced to be understood. It’s much the same way that you can empathize with somebody who’s broken their leg but not truly feel their pain unless you’ve broken a bone in the past. Dealing with mental health issues like phobias is something that’s tough to describe to others. With that said, your family does want you to be well, even if they don’t fully understand what you’re going through. Here’s more about how to overcome a mental illness with the help of loved ones.
Self-abuse
Self-abuse can manifest itself in many different ways. If you’re harming yourself or considering suicide then you need to talk to someone. A professional can bring invaluable insight and experience to the table. But if you don’t want to speak to a stranger just yet then the best option is always to talk with a loved one.
It can feel hard to talk to family and friends about something as personal as mental health, but always remember you’re not a burden to them. They want you to be mentally healthy.
In much the same way as if you broke your arm, your family will want to nurse you back to health in the best way possible. Simply having somebody listen to your troubles, rather than letting them rattle around your head, can make a world of difference. It’ll help keep your thoughts in check because you’ll be running them by other people.
Of course, self-abuse can be very private and introverted. The beating up can be a form of mental torture that isn’t very noticeable to people on the outside.
Addiction is very common among people with mental health struggles because it’s a temporary means of numbing pain. You might want to consider Broadway Treatment Center if you feel that your dependencies have spiraled out of control and you need help to come back to the surface. Addiction isn’t the answer to your struggles, and people want to help you overcome it. Again, your family can help by providing support for mental illness.
Physical health
It may seem strange to end an article on mental health issues by talking about physical health, but the two concepts relate closely. The state of your body affects the state of your mind, and vice versa.
If you want to break a vicious cycle of beating yourself up for the way you feel then shift your focus from mind to body. Get into a better sleeping pattern, for starters; the more sleep you have, the more alert and focused your brain will be.
Support from family members might give you the motivation you need to get outside and take a leisurely stroll around your park, or even a full-blown run. This exercise can help wake your mind up and make you feel more energetic and happy, even for a short time. And even if the thought of exercise does not make you happy at this very moment.
Good lord love, totally second the whole sleeping well notion. I suffer from anxiety and toxicity simply makes it worse. In order to keep it at a manageable level getting a good sleep is a must. Thanks for the lovely read, gorgeous xx
I’m glad you’ve found us here and will be sharing your own views in the comments ~ I wish you a good sleep ahead!
Great post, mental health is also an issue that needs to be addressed, health starts from the mind.
Although mental health is being talked about more frequently it is still stigmatised and underfunded which is letting down a LOT of people. Great post, enjoyed reading it :)
What a great description. Really enjoyable read :)
A beautiful post on a complicated issue Christy, Brava :) <3
Sending so much love!
Thank you! Receiving it! Hugs back. <3
Woohoo :) <3
<3
A good post, Christy. Mental health is a very complicated thing as it is often not obvious that someone has a problem because they try to hide it in public. Think about anorexia and even something like OCD. People hide things that are not socially acceptable so it is really hard to help them.
Often we don’t know know is suffering behind closed doors… Great point, Robbie xx
Also I want to add that for people dealing with anxiety and depression from life stressors like divorce, death, and other forms of loss group therapy offers support and healing in an atmosphere of trust. My former husband was a clinical psychologist and I worked with him in group therapy.
So glad you brought that up, Ina! A major stressor can leave a big mental impact and that, in turn, affects physical health. I’m glad you are now much healthier – and a writer at that <3
Christy THANK you for this. The mind-body connection is so strong, so I’m so grateful you were able to highlight that in this post.
Wonderful post, Christy. Having a,mental illness is no different than having a physical ailment except people can’t see your pain. In many ways it’s much worse to suffer from a mentally illness. I have found that keeping active helps me to feel mentally healthy. At the very least it can help take your mind off thing even for a little while.
You are doing a wonderful job here. Mental health is the base for everything really, and how many times do w see it brushed under the carpet. xxx
Beautiful post mam .Mental health is the base for other health problems .If we are mentally healthy ,then we live a happy and fit life.
Hi Christy, great post, mental health issues are so important. I’ve been thinking about your kind offer to guest posti on your blog and I’d like to post links to my book plus a post about self-harm if that is okay? One of the characters in my book self-harms so that might be a good idea – also I do touch upon anxiety, depression and eating disorders in the story. Let me know whether that would be suitable. Thanks. Marje x
Hi Marje, that sounds like a post that will be very helpful and I welcome the idea. It would be great to have you guest post here! You can reach me through the form at this link: https://whenwomeninspire.com/about/ ~ It’ll send your message to my email and then we can discuss the specifics, including when will fit with your blog tour. Hugs!
Hi Christy that’s great will start working on a post and get back to you soon. Thanks so much really appreaciate your support. :)
Absolutely. Great plan! I appreciate your support too :)
Thanks Christy, let me know if there is anyway I can feature you too. xx
Excellent post Christy and there is definitely a link between certain mental health issues and nutrition. The low fat revolution resulted in far too few healthy fats being included in the diet and certainly there is a link to later life mental health problems such as dementia. Sugar also plays its role, particularly its addictive nature that activates the reward centre of the brain. The chemical reaction can result in fluctuations in our mood with quite high and low swings at any age.
Yes, the point you make about sugar is spot on, Sally! It’s those artificial sweeteners that leave us craving more.. a fierce cycle is then in the works. Your comment is very wise and I thank you for it xx Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!
You too Christy… xxx
Awww <3
A very natural post Christy.
Now (here the thinker goes again..:)) I empathize where someone has been ‘classed’ with a ‘mental health’ problem, I have known, still know people who have been ‘classed’ as having, but do they really have?…..
What if this ‘classification’, ‘stigmatization’ (which I add, should not be the case, nobody should ever feel as if they have been ‘classified’, ‘stigmatized’, under any circumstances. If they do, they have been let down, let down badly by others), has been incorrectly, inaccurately applied?
It was applied, as it was more convenient for others, to cage ‘brilliance’, ‘brilliance’ that others may not want to acknowledge, even go so far as to say fear, the ‘others’, were unable to understand the person, understand how ‘logical’ that person actually is?
I wonder what would happen if things were turned the other way round as in, people that are currently ‘classed’, ‘stigmatized’, as having mental health problems weren’t classed as such and the people that are currently ‘classed’ as not having mental health problems are classed as having? Any findings of such, could be quite interesting….?
I do wonder if many, many great minds, logical minds are being disregarded, ignored, wasted. Are people afraid of ‘logical thinking? ‘Classifications’, ‘categorizations’, ‘stigma’s’ – if these were looked at closely, are these more the issue, the root cause of any associated issues?
Have a great day Christy & followers! x
You really do have such good introspective comments, Tom! I wonder if we turn the tables now too… What is “normal” anyway? Perhaps that’s what you are getting at… and the stigma would then be reversed.. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, with lots of healthy thinking going on :)
What is “normal” now there a thought… I kinda wonder if each generation has a differing opinion on this. With the introduction of all these different ‘categories’, ‘classifications’, ‘stigmas’ etc it looks like we are not allowed to be merely ‘naturally normal’ these days, which really is quite sad, discerning. 😊I do try and consider, look at things from as many perspectives, be as open minded as possible, permitted to be x
Open minded is good. Thumbs up :)
Too many ‘closed’, could even possibly be referred to as ‘institutionalized minds’ :(
Amazing and helpful post. I’m gonna share with my friends
People who go through this might benefit talking to someone, or even writing it out. I find blogging it out helps me on days I’m feeling down!
Writing is a great way to work through things ~ You’ve got that SO RIGHT!! <3
Great post again Christy. My patients who have been through this said that sometimes it’s better to talk to a health professional (psychiatrist, social worker or psychologist) because that guilt of burdening a family member can be too much. Of course if your comfortable with that than that’s okay, but people also need to realise that if they aren’t comfortable with it, there are other options available! ☺
Thank you for writing this wonderful post. Often times, we care about physical health but the mental health is ignored, which may cause depression and anxiety as well as one may end up with many serious issues as you mentioned in your post. I shared this article on Pinterest and twitter. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you my friend for the quality feedback and sharing the post too. I like that we can provide one another with useful tips to navigate our way through the world :)
Thank you for this, Christy. You are well aware of my focus on Mental Health Awareness, and I SO appreciate it when bloggers like YOU spread the word as well. Important post.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
Another great voice out there. Well done!!!!
A sound mind in a sound body; the precept finds another amplification here, Christy. Together with your other recommendations, may it radiate as a strong persuasion to preserve mental and physical health….xx🤗
I hope this post finds you in good mental and physical health, Raj :) May the upcoming August and beyond be nice for you and family ((hugs))
A sound mind in a sound body. The precept finds another amplification here, Christy, and, in the process, may it become a further pursuasion for people to stay healthy…xx.
One thing’s for sure. It was never easy. :(
This is great Christy! It’s very difficult to understand if you’ve never experienced it but you explained it very well. There is something so wholesome about nurturing your body when your mind is struggling. It’s something so tangible and helpful that is often overlooked in mental health. Excellent post!
Mental health is health.
Wonderful post, Christy. Self-abuse is so convoluted. The infliction of harm is often mistaken for self-hatred instead of an attempt to release inner turmoil. I appreciate that you always end your health posts on a positive note 💕
It’s a coping mechanism… Thanks Tina <3