With the onset of the Covid-29 pandemic, we have all been hearing a buzz term “Mental Health.”
Take care of your mental health. Preserve your mental health. Prioritize your mental health. But what exactly is your mental health?
For mental health professionals/practitioners like myself, this term is not new to us as it forms the basis for the work we do. According to The Counselling Dictionary: Concise Definitions of Frequently Used Terms by Samuel T. Gladding (2011), mental health is defined as “A state of positive wellness and emotional well-being free from excessive stress.” Wellness is defined as “a state of being that emphasizes good health, a positive lifestyle, and prevention.” (Gladding, 2011).
Simply put: mental health means feeling good about yourself and being able to properly manage your emotions and stress.
Why is prioritizing your mental health important?
Picture yourself with your dream car. It looks luxurious and runs like a dream. Now imagine driving that car until the tank is empty. What happens? The car is unable to run. Even when you fill up the tank, if the car itself is not properly maintained; you can wash and wax until it looks showroom ready, but it won’t work to its maximum potential. We are like vehicles. If we don’t take proper care of ourselves, specifically our mental health; we can look fantastic on the outside but the interior problems can prevent us from achieving our fullest potential.
Your mental health and your physical health are inextricably linked. Imagine being a professional athlete level physically fit but experiencing chronic depression. Most likely, you would be unable to function with the tasks that constitute your daily routine. Motivation would be low, you may not be able to get out of bed or even shower. How would you be able to maintain this level of fitness? Conversely, imagine if you were mentally and emotionally sound, properly managing stress levels and not suffering from any mental illness; but you were suffering from a terminal illness. How would you be able to maintain your positive state of being when your body is being ravaged and you don’t feel well? Now it is not impossible to find the motivation to work out when you are depressed, nor is it impossible to have a positive mindset when you’re ill. But it would be extremely difficult.
Your mental health heavily impacts how you think, feel and act. It can also impact how we relate to one another; the quality of relationships we have. This is why taking the time to care for yourself, both mental and physical, is crucial. Good mental health makes for sound decision making, stress management (which can also affect your physical health), the ability to be more solution-oriented and general positivity.
Tips to Practice Self-Care
I like to call it the “Oxygen Mask Philosophy.” When you’re on a plane and the flight attendants go through all the safety protocols, they always say, in case the cabin pressure drops, ALWAYS PUT YOUR MASK ON FIRST. This is to ensure that you are in a conscious state to be properly able to help your loved ones. If not, you risk putting both yourself and your loved one in harm’s way. This is also how we need to go through life: we have to make sure we are okay, mentally and emotionally sound, so that we can properly care for others.
Self-Care looks different to everyone, but the bottom line is making sure we make the time to take care of ourselves. That may mean reading a good book or binge-watching your favourite series. It may mean simply taking time to be alone or spending time with people who bring positive energy to our lives. Getting your nails done, exercising or going to the beach. Whatever it is, ensure you are taking time to refill your gas tank. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to properly take care of anyone else.
Am I Crazy If I Seek Professional Help?
Managing your mental health means using healthy coping mechanisms when faced with stress, paying attention to yourself to learn your triggers (environments, people, places which can cause distress); and in certain situations, being open to seeking assistance from mental health professionals. Going for counselling in no way means you are crazy, weak or not in control of your life. These are common misconceptions that feed the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health within Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region. The fact that you are able to make a decision to do what’s best for you, states the exact opposite. Many times, seeking professional help can be a proactive measure as opposed to a reactive one. Sometimes, you may just need the ear of a neutral third party. Whatever the case, there is no shame in accessing help. Your health is your wealth and you need to make an investment in yours!
Remember, there is no health without mental health!
