Mental Health Awareness Month

Happy May and Mental Health Awareness Month!

As with our previous blog on Earth Month, we believe that it is good to have a designated time to acknowledge and analyze what is going on in the world around us, as well as in our personal lives. However, we do not believe that this attention should be limited to the month it has been confined to. 

Here at Positivity Breeds Positivity, we are actively working on putting good into the world every single day, while also acknowledging that everything can't be great and positive all the time. As we have said before, taking steps to highlight the positives in one's life will undoubtedly shine light on positives that might have otherwise gone unseen and create ones that might never have been lived. We love this approach, as it has allowed us to live more freely and be more true to ourselves— but we would be lying if it was a bandaid for every cut. No, some cuts are much deeper than others - and a majority of the time go unseen. 

Sometimes the things we can’t see, cause much more harm than the things we can. Over the last couple decades, society's perception of mental health and its impact on our persons has drastically changed, and dare I say improved. Although there is still a stigma around mental health, disproportionately affecting various groups of people, we have made a marked improvement. We might not be improving as fast as many of us would hope for, but improving nonetheless. 

In recent years, many individuals have found the courage and the strength to speak up about their struggles allowing the topic to migrate from dark, closed-off rooms and into the societal conversations of today. I would go so far to assume that every person who has lived a life on this beautiful Earth has come across some form or degree of mental distress throughout the course of their life, and for many, much more frequently than that. As with most things, it varies from person to person, experience to experience. What we do know to be true is that it exists, and it's becoming an increasingly relevant part of our lives. 

For most of history, the job of listener was for psychiatrists, a close friend, or a partner, who you felt comfortable enough with to be your most honest self and share your struggles in hopes of receiving advice that could guide you through it. Always in the back of your mind, if those personal struggles got out, the shame of others knowing you're struggling and maybe even judgment from harsh critics. The thing most people overlooked, or simply didn’t acknowledge, is that the person you were being so open and honest with, was most likely struggling with their own challenges but simply didn’t have the courage to share. I think that’s the beauty of our evolving culture: we are becoming more open and honest about our feelings and are willing to show our innermost struggles in an effort to evolve and better understand ourselves.

Being open about your feelings, and honest about your thoughts, will lead to a better understanding of why those afflictions are causing the emotional harm they are. If someone has struggled to express their emotions and has held onto it for a while, the first time they do have the courage to talk it is incredibly important that the individual they are opening up to accepts and acknowledges their struggles, without scrutiny or skepticism. That is a role all of us will play at some point in our lives. Someone we love is currently, or will in the future, have struggles with mental health and it is our responsibility to those we love that we will not judge and criticize them, but will be open to their struggles and listen to them. To not be mistaken, by listening I mean not thinking about how to fix their problems or telling them they're being “dramatic”, I mean genuinely listen by opening up your heart and your ears, not your mouth. It is a moment of great vulnerability off loading one's mental struggles, and if we are to evolve as a society it is critical that we do not make fun of or downplay someone in their most vulnerable state. 

For anyone who is going through struggles with their mental health and wishes to speak to someone about it, opening up to a loved one is a great place to start your journey of healing. However, with all that being said, sometimes the people we love can’t always provide us with the support we need for whatever reason. You could also be someone who doesn’t feel comfortable enough to talk about your struggles with those close to you. That is why there are professionals, who have experience with helping those in similar situations, that can provide you with the proper assistance you need when overcoming emotional struggles. 

Mental health is just as important as your physical health, and for many struggling with their mental health, physical health can also be negatively affected. This is why talking and opening up about what you’ve been holding in, can be of great benefit. My mother taught me this lesson early on and remains a staunch believer in its power. She would always say that it is critical to speak your mind and get emotions off your chest because before long that weight would be heavy enough to affect your ability to breathe. That is how many people feel about their mental health. As if they are constricted by its existence and the fear of the unknown, of what might happen when they confront those struggles. Talking not only lifts that immense weight off your chest, but it also begins the journey towards healing and although it varies from person to person, taking that first step is the momentum most people need to get the help they require. 

This month highlights one of the biggest battles in our society today. As mental health becomes evermore present in our lives it is crucial that we accept and acknowledge its presence and talk about our thoughts and feelings because this life is meant to be enjoyed and you can’t let negatives have the spotlight. If you are struggling and want to start healing please reach out to someone. This could be the country's leading nonprofit, Mental Health America, which is dedicated to helping all people live mentally healthier lives, or online therapy resources such as BetterHelp or Talkspace. If you see someone who seems to be struggling or is in need of support, please reach out to them and tell them you are there for them if they ever need it. With a bit of love and compassion, no one will walk this Earth alone. 

[1] Mental Health Definition - ​​Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. 

[1]  How common is mental health?

• More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness
• Over 1 in 5 youth (ages 13-18) either currently or at some point during their life have had a mental illness 

[2] 10 Tips to Boost your Mental Health 

• Get regular exercise
• Eat healthy and stay hydrated
• Make sleep a priority
• Practice gratitude
• Set goals and priorities, check them off as you accomplish them
• Focus on positivity and what's going right in your life
• Take time to laugh
• Take a walk in nature to ground yourself
• Stay connected to friends and/or family, for example call someone you love who you might not have talked to in a while 
• Do something you enjoy doing, painting - drawing - listening to your favorite podcast etc.
  
  

Happy Mental Health Awareness Month from your friends at PBP!

[1] (2023, April 25). About Mental Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved May 8, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm#:~:text=Mental%20health%20includes%20our%20emotional,others%2C%20and%20make%20healthy%20choices.

[2] (2022, December). Caring for Your Mental Health. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved May 8, 2023, from

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health