Tough Love Thursday - Avoidance and Distractions Are Not Mental Health

Lately there’s been a lot of arguments made for services to be classified as vital for mental health.

One problem is mental health is synonymous with mental illness. If you are severely depressed, or anxious, you absolutely need a professional to help you. Either through talk therapy, medication, or some combination of the above.

Building mental health is further along the continuum. It’s all the repeated acts of positive self care that add up to mental well-being, peace of mind, and happiness.

Any activity with the right intention and execution can build mental health. But any activity that’s used as a means of avoidance for a distraction isn’t contributing to your peace of mind. If you run to enjoy the endorphins and fresh air it can be a positive. If you only feel good about yourself after you’ve had your run, or run excessively while avoiding your obligations and difficulty conversations/self reflection, then it is no longer a method of building and preserving your mental health.

Mental health cannot be built only on what feels good. You need to address your self limiting beliefs, bad habits, unresolved memories, and embrace the “dark” side of development. This can be done through ‘making yourself’ study in order to improve your career, having raw and honest conversations with loved ones or professionals, and sitting with yourself to clear your jumbled up thoughts and feelings.

When you commit to the difficult, uncomfortable, or downright scary tasks of true self care, that’s where the real pay off of peace of mind and true mental health resides.

https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18248924&appointmentType=11286512

www.thementalhealthplan.com