Becca Morrow, Production Manager //
When did the word ‘health’ become a taboo? You might be thinking “No it isn’t! Being healthy is a mainstream topic that everyone and their mother is discussing. Right?” Well yeah, everywhere you look all you hear is ‘gluten free’ this and ‘gym membership’ that. But there is a lot more to health than what you eat or how often you exercise. People seem to forget that overall well-being is a balance between physical health and mental health. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tricked myself into believing “well if I eat right and I’m in shape, I’ll feel good about myself and be happy.” This is such backwards thinking. Many people fail when trying to become more physically healthy and it can easily be a result of not having a solid foundation of mental health. If you’re pushing yourself to be healthier because you are unhappy with your self image, you’re ignoring the underlying problem instead of mending it. And here is where I make my point; health (at least the mental side of it) is a taboo topic. People don’t talk about it enough, and many deem it as an issue only for those who are dealing with extreme cases. Society has shoved mental health in a corner, and I’m urging everyone to march over and pull it out of the shadows.
It is Mental Health Awareness week on Kennesaw State’s campus, and it inspired me to share my thoughts on the topic. There are several stigmas associated with mental health that cause people to stray away from discussion. A lot of things about mental health are scary and real and personal, and we should have the courage to try and understand them.
I have recently been making a point to really reflect on what is going on inside of my head; what triggers me to stress out, what makes me feel anxious, what makes me feel unmotivated, what really makes me happy. These things are so important to how my daily life is lived. Over the past few years, I’ve come to realize that I have been coping with anxiety issues my whole life. I never realized it because I was so brainwashed by what I thought mental illness meant. I let myself be afraid of judgement, and I’m happier now that I have allowed myself to understand what my brain was telling me.
Compare it to physical health; for instance, if you go jogging every few days to stay in shape, you are actively putting in maintenance. So, we should think of our mental health in the same manner; every few days (or even more often) we should be checking in with ourselves, reflecting on our mood. If our mental status isn’t in an ideal place, we must put in the maintenance to bring it back up. For ideas on how to give your brain a boost, check out my post on five ways to be happier!
Start to incorporate more mentally healthy habits into your life, and I promise you will thank yourself. Caring about your brain should be a daily healthy habit, the same as eating well and brushing your teeth. The brain is an amazing organ, and it deserves your attention. You are the only person who can truly know what your brain is telling you, so you owe it to listen. If you feel depressed, or angry, or full of anxiety, take time to untangle the root of these feelings and understand yourself. Having mental issues is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a result of possessing the most complex organic structure known to man. Every human experiences these things. Being aware of our mental health is the best way to prevent more serious problems from developing. The same goes for physical health. We eat well and exercise to prevent life-crippling diseases; so we should think about mental fitness in the same manner.
You are in control of your mind and your mental reactions to situations. I feel that the more in-tune you are with yourself, the more you will understand your feelings, which can only benefit you and your life. Stay positive, stay focused on what really matters, and stay happy!