Why mental health matters
May is mental health awareness month and while mental health is always important and should be a priority, let’s use this month as a reminder to come back to taking care of ourselves, our mental well-being and our emotions. While there may be a stigma around mental health across cultures, mental health awareness month reminds us how important and brave it is for us to take the time to acknowledge and heal our internal struggles. As an Art Therapist, I see firsthand how important it is to make time, space and energy to connect with our mental and emotional state as a way to truly care for ourselves and well-being.
What is mental health and why does it matter?
Mental health refers to your emotional, social and psychological wellbeing -it affects how we think, feel, act and engage with the world around us. Emotional health includes your ability to cope with and manage a variety of emotions such as anger, sadness, joy, etc. Social health refers to your engagement with others, the quality of your relationships and your sense of belonging. Psychological health is the way in which you manage stress, how you process your experiences and maintain your sense of identity.
Anxiety, trauma and grief can manifest in both our minds and in our body - both of which are key components of mental health and can dictate the ways in which we care for ourselves. Lack of awareness or attention to these issues can be lead to long term challenges and suffering. When we are unable to tend to our mental health, we may start to notice other areas of our lives - work, home, relationships, etc.-start to suffer as well.
Mental health matters because it affects so many different areas of our lives. When we begin or consistently neglect caring for our mental health, our physical health, stress management, emotional regulation and so much more will suffer as well.
How can I start to care for my mental health?
In my opinion, the first step is awareness - noticing and identifying both that mental health is important while also noting if or what the struggle or challenge may be. From there we are then able to begin exploring different ways to support and care for our mental health.
Therapy:
While this one may feel like the obvious answer, it is an important one. There are many different forms of therapy, therapists and settings - neither is better or worse than another - what is important is finding the type that works for you. If you enjoy more individualized structure, maybe you seek out a CBT therapist for individual sessions, in person. If you seek more community and creativity, maybe you explore group Art Therapy. You may have to try out a couple of different therapists and forms of therapy to find the right one there is no shame in that or anything wrong with you. Stick with the process and you will find it will be worth it in the end.
Prioritizing physical health:
Another way to care for your mental health is caring for your physical health. This includes the foods you eat, how much sleep you get and how you choose to move your body. Every body is unique and has different needs, again try to find the one that works for you - even if it requires some trial and error.
Seeking out enjoyable activities:
Finding activities that you enjoy are essential to begin or continue caring for your mental health. Perhaps you explore your creativity by taking a pottery class. Or, you love to be in nature and want to explore hiking in your area. Maybe staying at home and baking new recipes brings you joy. Any and all of these can be great ways to help manage your stress and increase levels of happiness.
Community Connection
Social engagement is one of the key components in mental health - finding safe and stable relationships where we are able to express our emotions, experience joy and be present are crucial to our inner experience. While community connection can include relationships between families and friends, it can also be found in workplaces and in groups or clubs in the community. As you have noticed a theme, find the type of connection that feels good for you and fuels your soul.
Mental health is part of our human experience and should always be made a priority. Whether you have been actively caring for your mental health for a long time or are just starting your journey, you can always make time and space for yourself.
If you want to explore finding ways to support your mental health through creativity and somatic work, click here to schedule a free consultation call with me today. I serve clients both in person and virtually in Miami, FL and virtually in the state of New York.
