May: Mental Health Awareness Month

My only relief used to be to sleep. Sleep so you can’t feel it, sleep so you can’t see it, sleep so you can’t experience anything at all. It wasn’t until I realized that not doing anything was the worst possible thing I could be doing to get better. We need to talk more about mental health, we need to end the stigmas surrounding it so that people aren’t afraid to be open with how they feel. End the stigmas so that people aren’t afraid to face themselves internally. Looking at statistics shows us that we aren’t alone, but the myths and stigmas are devastating.

The Problem With Stigmas

Stigmas lead to avoidance and disbelief that one even has an issue to be addressed. Stigmas lead to:
 
*Low self-worth
*Discrimination
*Isolation
*Fear of rejection
*Lack of overall self-esteem
 
There are many ways we can help end the stigmas against mental health. Here are some ways to care for one another and ourselves:

Have Compassion

Having compassion for yourself and others is VITAL. Being kind to yourself and to the people you meet; avoiding judgment; asking “how are you?” to people you love and to strangers alike and meaning it; practicing self-talk that is positive and affirmative.

Finding Support

Reaching out to somebody you trust or going to therapy is a very brave thing to do. It is not shameful to ask for help when needed or to say “today I am not ok.” If somebody is open and asks for support, often just listening and thanking them for sharing is all they need.
For immediate and/or emergency support referrals, please follow the link to my resources page and write down any of the resources you may need.

Self-Care

Know when your battery needs to recharge and rest. Make time for YOU and distance yourself from negativity no matter who or what it comes from. Ie. set boundaries and try to recognize your triggers!

Doing nothing fixes nothing and it’s **SO OK** to not be ok. Each one of us was born awesome. (That’s why I love coaching little ones!) It is society and stigmas that make us feel like we have to be silent and ok when we are not; when we’re hurt, when we’ve experienced traumas or have had other detrimental experiences. 
 
Together we can change that. Let’s break the cycle and end the stigmas. 

🌱   MAY WE ALL BE MINDFUL OF PROTECTING OUR MENTAL HEALTH   🌸

Sources:
 
All Mental Health Statistics by NIMH CDC, NAMI, and photos by www.topflorida psychiatrists.com; apa.org; afrowomanonline.com
Mental Health Myths by www.rimpasarkar.com
Photo by: Tina Leu Fotos www.tinaleu.com