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Hard times come to us all, but the support of friends and family is what gets us through. We've also been concerned about other people's mental health. There are several methods to assist someone you care about, whether they are a friend, family member, or co-worker.
It might be challenging to discuss your thoughts with friends or family. It's natural to be concerned about upsetting people you care about and to wonder what others will say or how it may damage your relationships.
You may feel more comfortable confiding in friends or family than professionals, or you may find it simpler to start with a professional (such as your doctor). There is no right or wrong way to do things. However, those closest to us may frequently be useful sources of support.
Why Do People Go Through Mental Health Issues?
People deal with mental health concerns for a variety of reasons. Factors such as how much exercise you receive, drug and alcohol usage, the nature of your connections, your self-esteem, how lonely or isolated you feel, whether you're employed, heredity, and many more can all play a role.
People who feel 'attached' to others and have more rewarding relationships are often happier. Of course, this does not mean that individuals with busy social lives or good relationships are not troubled, but those who feel more connected to others are frequently better equipped to deal with life's difficulties. Communication is essential in coping with mental health difficulties. People who freely discuss their mental health with friends, family, or a therapist are more likely to feel better about it.
Why Should We Start Talking About Mental Health?
The significance of discussing mental health cannot be overstated which is why it is important for individuals to understand the benefits of discussing mental health and urge them to do so openly.
1. Get Rid of the Stigma
By talking about mental illness more frequently, we as a culture can perhaps dispel the myths surrounding it. When these stereotypes are addressed, the stigma associated with mental health should be reduced.
2. Mental Health Disorders are on the Rise
Some mental health illnesses have become more common in recent decades. According to one study, Major Depressive Episodes in adolescents went from 11.93% to 12.63% in one year. 2 As more individuals are impacted by these concerns, it simply shows that you are not alone in your struggles, and discussing mental health should become more mainstream.
3. Encourage Treatment and Reduce Suicide Rates
This is possibly the most crucial reason we need to discuss mental health. Too many individuals are not getting the help they require because mental health is stigmatized. As a result, their poor mental health may lead to suicide. According to one study, more than 90% of those who commit suicide had indications of a mental health issue.
An open conversation about mental health may help everyone heal. Most people don't understand that there are different methods for efficiently treating mental illness, and you may live a normal life by learning how to manage your mental health problem symptoms. Your mental health influences how you think, feel, and, eventually, act. It is critical that we share our feelings with people daily. More individuals may be motivated to seek expert care by openly discussing mental health.
4 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health by Reaching Out
1. Making Contact With Others
When dealing with mental health issues, many people feel lonely. It may even appear that others do not care or understand.
If you reach out to someone, you may discover they have experienced similar experiences. You may treasure their support even more if you open up since they have been there.
2. Getting Rid Of the Secrets
For many people, having to pretend or suppress their emotions might exacerbate their suffering.
On the other hand, friends, family, and those closest to you may turn out to be your most ardent advocates. Many feel better after talking about it since it is no longer a secret; they feel obligated to keep it to themselves.
3. Creating Stronger Ties
Reaching out can help someone truly comprehend what you're going through. You could even discover that the other person has had a similar experience, which could strengthen your bond.
4. Knowing How You Feel
One advantage of opening yourself to individuals close to you is that it allows them to know how you're feeling. This also implies that they will be better at assisting you in the future. For example, you could notice that they improve at seeing indications, listening, giving you space, and so on.
Who Should You Talk To?
1. Speak With Someone You Trust.
Talking to someone you trust about an uncomfortable situation will enable you to:
- Sort out the issue.
- Examine the situation more closely.
- Consider the problem in a fresh or different light.
- Release accumulated stress: This helps you gain new insight into the scenario producing the issue.
- Discover that you are not alone; you may discover that many other individuals share your emotions.
- Find possibilities or solutions you had yet to consider previously.
Don't Keep Your Difficulties to Yourself
If you don't talk about your concerns, you can discover that your pent-up emotions or sentiments explode uncomfortably or inappropriately.
You may also discover that things will worsen if you do not take immediate action.
Other Methods for Dealing with Your Emotions
It is critical to discover ways to communicate your emotions. This helps you in releasing tension and making better judgments. You may express yourself in a variety of ways, including:
1. Do activities that make you happy, like reading or exercising.
Write about how you feel if you want to examine your emotions. Some people keep diaries or notebooks, while others jot down whatever comes to mind. You may write a tale about whatever is upsetting you.
2. Avoid circumstances that may stress you out or make you upset.
Self-talk entails intentionally changing negative thought patterns to help you see things more positively.
Meditation is one method for focusing your thoughts and considering the broader picture. Is your unpleasant circumstance worth stressing over? Will it make a difference in the long run? Play a sport or engage in some physical activity - it will give you several opportunities to expend pent-up energy.
3. Draw, paint, or construct a collage to express yourself.
Singing, playing, or listening to music (or even screaming) may all be beneficial. Dance at home to music, or dance as much as you like.
Conclusion
When discussing mental health, nothing is humiliating or ashamed. You may help people understand depression, anxiety, stress, and other issues by reaching out to others around you. Opening out can help them recognize that they are not alone in their struggles. Not only will this help remove the stigma associated with mental health, but it may also give those struggling the courage to open out – and feel a lot better for it.
You could be dealing with a situational issue that will improve with time to process or changes to your environment (such as switching lockers to get away from a bully), or you could be dealing with a more long-term mental health issue. Mental health problems are widespread and curable; however, you may need to try a few different approaches to discover your best treatment or a mix of tactics.
