Mental Health Matters: Healing Mind, Body, Spirit, and Relationships

Mental health is something we all have, yet it is often only discussed when there is a crisis. While May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, caring for our mental and emotional well-being is a year-round journey. In this four-part series, we will take time to explore mental health in a practical and compassionate way, including understanding what mental health really means, recognizing triggers and warning signs, and learning healthy coping strategies. We begin with the foundation- a brief understanding of mental health and why it matters.

What does “mental health" mean to you? When you think about mental health, who do you see, that is, what image comes to mind? 

Mental health can be described as a wholistic* experience that includes the mind, body, and spirit. It reflects how a person thinks, feels, interacts, and behaves. In other words, how we adjust to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us.

A mentally healthy person is generally well-adjusted, reasonably free from excessive worry, and able to navigate the normal daily tensions and crises of life. This may still include moments of fear, anxiety, distrust, sadness, or depression, but these emotions are managed in healthy and balanced ways. A mentally ill person, sometimes described as emotionally disturbed, may experience these same thoughts and feelings- fear, anger, anxiety, distrust, and depression- but more frequently, more intensely, and in ways that significantly disrupt daily functioning.

A mentally ill person may cope by distancing themselves from the outside world or by displaying certain behavioral symptoms such as:

• Escape – withdrawing from reality through extreme shyness, secretiveness, excessive daydreaming, or refusing to make decisions

• Attack – feeling disliked or rejected and responding with anger, taking offense easily, picking fights, or engaging in antisocial behavior

• Competitiveness – an excessive drive to prove superiority over others

• Selfishness – difficulty sharing time, money, or attention while demanding these things from others; often seen in hoarding behaviors or emotional possessiveness

It is important to note that there is no sharp division between mental health and mental illness. Like physical health, mental health exists on a spectrum and can be strengthened through healthy habits, supportive environments, and meaningful relationships.

Join me next month for part two of our discussion as we discuss triggers and warning signs of mental health challenges.

Fondly,

Dr. C

* Wholistic is spelt intentionally with a "W" in all of Walters Wellness Group's writing.