“They can also be times of stress and apprehension however. In some cases, if not recognized and managed, these feelings can lead to mental illness. The expanding use of online technologies, while undoubtedly bringing many benefits, can also bring additional pressures, as connectivity to virtual networks at any time of the day and night grows.”
On the information page about World Mental Health Day 2018, the specific theme is Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World.
The lines I quoted, though, can apply to anyone and everyone, young and not-so-young.
Mental health care is a critical piece of living a full and healthy life. Sometimes, our mental health can be fragile; sometimes it can be robust and seem indestructible. Building mental resilience, as the WHO describes it, is a critical tool not only for adolescents, but for everyone.
There are many, many tools available today to help us cope, function, survive, and even thrive. And, yes, I include myself. I took an anti-depressant for years; it was prescribed for an off-label function as an appetite suppressant and it also served to stabilize my moods and keep my depression from running my life. When I eliminated gluten from my diet, one of the end results was an overall leveling off of my moods and depression, enough so that in conversation with my physician I ended up eliminating the medication from my life. For the most part, depression has not been as impactful on my life since that time. There are, on rare occasion, days when I feel as if I’m sitting under a large, deep blue-black weight and I can’t see past it to the light I know is there. I’m fortunate in that those days are few and far between. They happen, and I’m working on the coping mechanisms. Sometimes it’s taking valerian root. Sometimes it’s crying uncontrollably for what seems like no good reason. Sometimes it’s exercise. Many times – in fact almost daily – meditation serves as a valuable tool. I’m deeply hopeful that with the dietary changes I’ve made and the activity changes I’ve made, I won’t need pharmaceutical help again. Please take careful note of what I say next: needing pharmaceutical help is not a weakness or a bad sign or a negative thing. It is absolutely critical that everyone finds the right tool for your own mental health. Once you have those right tools, the clarity and peace that come with them? That’s priceless. Nutrition, exercise of some kind, social activity of some kind, and maybe medications can be in the toolbox. Everyone is different. Everyone has different needs. Everyone has different solutions. Everyone needs support. Everyone needs to know they are not alone.
It isn’t morning, but this is a good item with which to end this week’s #winewellnesswednesday.
Waking up this morning, I smile.
Twenty-four brand-new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.
~Thich Nhat Hanh~ PEACE IS EVERY BREATH
“…look at all beings with eyes of compassion.” Start with yourself.
On this World Mental Health Day, please know that your health matters. Mental health isn’t always a visible health issue. Look at yourself and those around you with love, patience, and kindness.