Everyone talks about it, but what exactly is mental health?
Mental health and self care have become buzzwords online and off. But what exactly do we mean when we say that you should take care of your mental health?
Our culture is more familiar with the idea that we should all take care of our bodies – after all, our bodies are very obvious to us, they carry us around every day and we feel them more and more as we age!
On the other hand, the idea that we should also look after how we feel inside and how we think isn’t as accepted. It remains somewhat taboo to talk about feeling down, overwhelmed by work or anxious about the future or the state of the world. There remains a preconceived idea that if you’re feeling low, it’s probably your fault and you should innately know how to handle it and certainly never, ever share that burden with anyone else – we all have our share of worries already.
This stigma, like all stigmas, ends up perpetuating unnecessary suffering and itself: if no one ever opens up about their feelings, no one can get encouraged to do so, and the cycle continues!
Taking care of your mental health is crucial because it is so easy to neglect it. Although society is growing more aware of it, it remains difficult to get vulnerable in a world where doing so is seen as weak and always bad instead of simply human.
Why is it important to take care of our mental health?
Looking after yourself can only benefit you – and those around you.
By making sure you feel good inside and out, you’ll be your best self: happier, more present, more confident and more enthusiastic about the future and your dreams. Once you can manage your anxiety and your other issues, you will be more grounded and more ready to face the world!