This post is about mental health support.
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Where do you go to get mental health support? How much support do you need? These questions are so important in your healing journey. Let’s answer these together.
Mental Health Support
1. Understanding Mental Health Support
Mental health support comes in many forms, and it’s more than just therapy. It can include:
- Friends or family who listen without judgement.
- Support groups where others share similar experiences.
- Resources like books, blogs, or online communities that inspire and educate.
For me, it was a mix. I leaned on a close friend who reminded me it was okay to ask for help. I also joined an online mental health group where I could learn from others experiences, it was fantastic! Along with this, I also sought help from a doctor and starting taking medicine to help me brain. It was a life saver!
You’ve probably heard people say, “There is no health without mental health.” This idea is backed by research in The Lancet, which found that about 14% of all diseases around the world are connected to mental health problems like depression, substance abuse, and psychosis. The study shows that mental health and physical health are closely linked, meaning one affects the other (Prince et al., 2007).
The study explains:
“Mental health problems can make people more likely to get sick or hurt, and being sick can make mental health worse. This creates more challenges for getting the right care and getting better.”
(Prince et al., 2007)
This research shows how important it is to care for mental health. When we don’t, it can make it harder to improve other health issues.
Bonus Tip: Support doesn’t have to look one way. Experiment with what feels most comfortable to you.
2. How Can Mental Health Support Help You?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, mental health support can:
- Offer guidance when everything feels uncertain.
- Help you process trauma or emotions in a safe space.
- Build resilience, making challenges easier to face.
I remember a time when I couldn’t even focus on small tasks without feeling completely drained. Even taking a shower or brushing my hair was so incredibly overwhelming. I didn’t know what was wrong with me! It was my therapist who taught me how to break things into manageable steps and offer some guidance in why my brain was acting this way.
Bonus Tip: Think about what’s weighing you down the most. Start by addressing just that one area with support, whether it’s through therapy, self-help, or talking to a trusted person.
3. Building Your Own Support System
Having a strong support system is a game changer. Here’s how you can start building one:
- Reach out: Share with someone you trust how you’re feeling.
- Join a group: Look for mental health meetups or online spaces where you can connect with others.
- Educate your circle: Sometimes loved ones want to help but don’t know how. Share resources with them so they can support you better.
I found that my support system wasn’t perfect and that’s okay. Sometimes friends would be available and want to chat, other times, they weren’t so willing. Not everyone understood my struggles, but those who did made all the difference.
A study in the Journal of Social Issues found that joining a support group can really help people struggling with mental health. Being part of a group means you have people who understand what you’re going through. This makes it easier to feel supported, ignore negative opinions from others, and feel better about yourself.
The study says:
“Being in a support group helps people feel stronger because they get support from others and can push back against unfair treatment. This makes them feel better about themselves.”
But the study also found that if someone connects too closely with a group that has a lot of stigma, it might hurt their self-esteem. So, it’s important to find a group that lifts you up and helps you feel positive.
4. Practical Steps to Support Your Mental Health
While having others support you is essential, taking small, practical steps for yourself is just as important. Here are some things that worked for me:
- Daily mindfulness: Even 5 minutes of deep breathing helped me feel calmer.
- Writing it down: Journaling became my way to express things I couldn’t say out loud.
- Small joys: Whether it was tea in the morning or a walk in the sun, little moments helped me rebuild happiness bit by bit.
Try creating a small daily routine nothing overwhelming. Tiny steps can lead to big changes. It could be as simple as getting up and having a shower then a simple breathing exercise. One could be to breathe in for 10 seconds and then breathe out for 10 seconds (through pursed lips). When you breathe out through pursed lips and forces your heart rate to lower which makes you feel more calm.
5. Can You Find Happiness Again?
The short answer? Yes, it is possible. But happiness might look different from what you imagined. It might come in fleeting moments at first, a smile after a conversation, or peace in a quiet moment. Over time, those moments build into something bigger.
When I began this journey, I thought happiness was out of reach. Now, I see it as something I grow every day through support, self-care, and patience.
Remember: You’re not alone in this journey. Mental health support is out there to help you rediscover joy and strength.
Final Thoughts
If you are going through a mental health crisis, you will need support. Whether through a support group, a professional therapist or through online articles and blog posts. You can get through this and be happy again.
This post was about mental health support.