Talking and thinking about your mental wellbeing is important. Being open with someone you trust about your thoughts and feelings can be very helpful.
People are much more aware and open about their mental wellbeing these days. This is a good thing. It helps us to recognise when we are experiencing a difficult time. The language that we all use to talk about our mental wellbeing is also very important. Feeling anxious, stressed, or a bit low, doesn’t necessarily mean that you are depressed for example, or have an anxiety disorder. These are medical labels, and when they are used properly, can be very helpful. But if they are used incorrectly they can become unhelpful, especially if they encourage us to focus on what is wrong inside rather than thinking about the bigger picture. When thinking or talking about your mental wellbeing, try to avoid unhelpful thoughts that focus on questions like
What is wrong with me?
How can I be fixed?
Instead, try to think about questions that encourage you to look at what is happening around you:
What is happening/ has happened to you for you to feel this way?
What is going on in your life just now?
How are you trying to manage things just now (what is working/not working)?
What else could you try? What do other people do to manage? What would you suggest to a friend if they were experiencing something similar?
What things are in your control and not in your control?
Are there times when things are a bit better for you, or you don’t feel like this?
Who are you close to? What relationships do you have?
What do you think you might need from other people?
Who can you trust to speak to about this?
Approaching your mental wellbeing in this way can help keep you hopeful and open to the idea that things can change for the better. It can also help you to find coping strategies that help you get through a difficult time.
