Why Mental Health Matters

You might schedule time for the gym and spend your Sunday evening meal prepping. But how much time out of your week do you spend on your mental health?

Mental health refers to our thoughts, our feelings, and our interactions with the people around us (mentalhealth.gov). Just like our physical health, our mental health needs proper nutrition and exercise.

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in our generation (ages 15-34)(https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide/index.shtml)
• 40 million adults in the US suffer from an anxiety disorder and 75% experience their first episode of anxiety by age 22.
  (https://adaa.org/finding-help/helping-others/college-students/facts)

When was the last time you saw a friend going through an anxiety episode? Probably never. We all go through difficult seasons sometimes, but it looks different for everybody and we are experts at pretending everything is fine. Chances are, we may not even realize ourselves that we are hurting!

It is so easy and tempting to just ignore the negative thoughts and feelings until they "go away." But taking a moment to take care of your mental health is a great way to care for yourself and your family/friends. Below are some quick benefits to investing in your mental health!

Benefits of Mental Health

via empowher.com

1. Longevity
• Having positive social relationships increases physical health life expectancy. 
• Being in an unhappy marriage can increase your chances of making you sick! (Gottman)
2. Satisfaction
• Being mentally engaged throughout your day, no matter the task, will help you gain satisfaction from your life. 
3. Better Relationships
• You may hear this often, but you must learn to care for yourself before you can truly care for others. 
• You may not realize how your mental health is affecting your interactions with others (Especially your partner/spouse). 
4. Happiness
• Having a fit mind is something you can work on in any circumstance.
• Mental health can help you to identify and go after what truly makes you happy. 

How to Care for Your Mental Health

via NYwellnessguide.com

1. Therapy
• You guys knew this was coming. Therapy is a space where you can examine what is going on internally with someone who is trained to care for your mental health. It takes a weight off your chest, and you learn so much about yourself and how you view others. Sometimes it really is all in your head! I see a therapist and I admit, I am hesitant to tell people that sometimes. But it's okay. Even Selena Gomez has a therapist! 
2. Social Support
• We cannot do life alone!  
• You need to surround yourself with friends you can confide in, trust their honest feedback, and just have fun with. 
• Find a community where you feel accepted and loved. Find people who support you in your dreams - and be that person for someone else too. 
• Your partner/spouse is not the answer to all your problems and needs (and vice versa).   
3. Self-Care
• Therapists and other helpers have trouble doing this one because we are so passionate about serving others. 
• Self-care is whatever it is that helps you feel excited, refreshed, and just present and connected with yourself. 
• It can be simple like taking a walk or sitting down with a cup of tea and a good book. 
• I try and practice 1 small act of self-care a day. Usually it involves chocolate. But I also schedule big self-care so that I can really take my mind off things. 
• This year, my husband and I traveled to New York and Yosemite. I also wrote songs, performed, and made music videos. 
• Don't lose touch with what makes you you. Don't become a task-oriented robot! Self Care!

My husband is really good at this self care stuff. 

What has been your experience with mental health? I would love to hear your story!