A Note on World Mental Health Day
This year has been a chaotic rollercoaster filled with curves, twists and abrupt stops that caused the world to shake and jumble, creating fear and uncertainty to fall directly into our laps. What a time to be alive. What a time to experience, to endure and to feel all of the emotions that have been blocked by everything we were once “allowed” to do.
Routines have been disrupted, our social lives have steered off course and we are now faced with everything discomforting. And that’s ok.
This whole experience, this past year, hasn’t been a test to see who can make the most out of a pandemic. It wasn’t to prove how athletic, how productive, or how manageable you could be. This was a time to look within, to deeply connect with yourselves and loved ones. This was a time to greatly reset and revisit your habits, your health, your time, your energy. This wasn’t a time to compare, to fall into a bigger trap of social media aesthetics, and be hard on ourselves for not being okay. Life isn’t a race alongside others, it is a competition with ourselves, our behaviors, our reactions and intentions. We do our work and we allow others to do theirs, however that looks like.
Fear runs deep, but our faith, intention and confidence, runs deeper.
Our mental health speaks and sometimes, interferes with our daily lives greatly, if we’re unaware. It’s almost as if it creates us to embody someone else because it’s that powerful. It’s that influential.
Due to the extremity of COVID-19, depression and anxiety have increased triple the amount prior to the pandemic. Sensitivity is heightened, stressors are becoming more common and fear is included in the language. But what’s important isn’t what’s created the uproar, it’s what’s behind it. It’s the intention of the behaviors and the cause of that first feeling of discomfort.
It’s okay to feel scared. It’s okay to be afraid, worried or preoccupied with something that is important to you. Everyone is different, and the way we mend, might not be like others. We could be feeling similar emotions, but we execute healing differently.
Do what’s best for you.
For this world mental health day, take some time to learn about yourself, about the things you need to heal from or revisit. Create the awareness around understanding your behavior, making sense of the reoccurring questions you have. Be gentle with yourself and stay mindful about what you consume mentally and physically. Take care of your body: rest when needed and move when asked.
Dealing with depression, anxiety, or any other mental health disorders is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s just part of our journey to becoming our healthiest selves.
As someone who currently has an on-going relationship with mental health struggles, I’ve learned to take the time to cope and care. I’ve learned to be selfish when I’m unaligned and talk through my feelings to understand its origin. I’ve accepted my journey for what it is, including the third or fourth strikes and the reoccurring actions I am currently trying to let go of. Life is only offering our minds with insights on what needs to be unraveled or consciously analyzed and made aware.
Whatever your struggles are, whatever your fear or anger is, you can do it. You will be okay. You are allowed to feel anything, you’re allowed to take up the space you need to heal.
Be curious and never stop learning from the pain. Always accept, but move forward and keep progressing.