Mental Health Awareness 2022
May is the month for Mental Health Awareness 2022! I love that mental health is being talked about more. We’re getting close to the day that you don’t have to feel bad about how you feel.
Life is Hard
There has always been a stigma about depression. If you get depressed (newsflash: everyone does!), you don’t have to feel bad about it but there is that stigma that something is wrong with you if you aren’t always positive. The truth is that life is hard and sometimes we get depressed. There’s nothing wrong with how you feel but there is something wrong with how we are made to feel about it. Unfortunately, not everyone has the skills to get out of their depressive states and others have true medical reasons for their depression. Everyone needs help in some way and no one should be judged for struggling.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a reaction to stress. There are many reasons people get anxious, some of these are:
- Social isolation (especially during a global pandemic)
- Loss
- Trauma
- Grief
- Uncertainty
- Health or financial worries
This is why I want to talk about Mental Health Awareness 2022 because it is so important. You are important!!! We all feel this way from time to time and it’s OK. Anxiety is a very common disorder so we’re not alone – in fact, 40 million adults, which is ~20% of the population gets anxious. The good news it’s highly treatable.
Signs / symptoms of anxiety
How do you know if you are anxious? There are several telltale signs:
- You feel nervous or irritable.
- Panic
- Your heart rate increases
- There may be gastrointestinal issues
- Sleeping is difficult – you either wake in the middle of the night, don’t get a good night’s sleep, or have insomnia.
- Concentration is poor
- You sweat or hyperventilate
- No energy
These symptoms are very common and you may not have realized you were anxious or you have gotten so used to feeling this way that you disregard the signs.
What’s happening?
When we get anxious, we have a thought. That thought turns into a physical symptom(s) which brings about anxious behaviors. The cycle continues and it gets worse the longer it goes on. It doesn’t feel good – we feel like the world is ending and it is scary. Don’t be scared – it’s Mental Health Awareness 2022 so it’s a good time to start feeling better!
Coping Strategies
There are several things you can do to feel better. The biggest of these is taking care of yourself. This can be difficult for some. I know when I’ve had a hard time during parts of my life, it took me some time to figure out that I needed to take a step back. By doing this, I was able to start eating better, get more exercise and more sleep. This really does help although, at the time, progress seems slow.
Another way to help cope is to stay connected with people. I’m not talking social media. What I’m talking about is a trusted friend or family member that you can talk to. If you don’t feel like you have anyone to turn to, you can get professional help. Or, if this isn’t what you would feel comfortable with, try joining a club like a reading group or perhaps volunteering. Find something that would help you interact with people.
You don’t need to tell others why you are there – it’s none of their business – but getting out around people (even if they don’t know why you joined) does help us to cope. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with life, this is a great strategy to get out of our heads.
I know you can beat depression and anxiety! I believe in you! Make your brain happy! Celebrate Mental Health Awareness 2022 and be happy!
