May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S and abroad. In the U.S. alone, 1 in 5 adults — 43.8 million, or 18.5% — experiences mental illness in a given year (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml). Now is the perfect time to reduce the stigma around mental illness and assess your emotional well being. Stress can manifest in many forms – anxiety, depression, rumination, compulsions, and addictions.
Often people experiencing anxiety attacks feel like they are having a heart attack. The mind/body connection is so strong, that often people are unaware of the stress they are experiencing until it manifests in physical symptoms in the body. Did you know that stress, anxiety and worry cause an increase of acid in the stomach? This increases your chances of heart burn, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)and stomach ulcers.
ASSESS.
Please stop for a moment and check in with your body.
– How have you been feeling?
– Is there an increase in headaches, stomach issues, difficulty breathing, body tension etc?
– Could this be a result of stress?
– Are you too busy?
– How do your relationships impact you?
– Do you get enough sleep? If not, why not?
– How are your eating habits?
– Do you use alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana or food to help you cope?
– What stress management tools do you utilize on a regular basis?
– What action step can you take right now to help you create a less stressful life?
If you feel constantly overwhelmed and feel a lack of control, it can help to talk to a trusted friend or professional. We all need support from time to time in our lives.
I view seeking help and having the courage to disclose what’s truly going on as strength not a weakness. For example, if our car was broken we would take it to a mechanic. If our arm is broken, we wouldn’t think twice about going to a Doctor. People would consider this the smart thing to do. So why does society negatively view someone who sees a mental health professional?
My hope is that together we can change how mental health is viewed so we can normalize and encourage each and every one of us to talk openly about our mental wellbeing and feel encouraged and empowered to seek professional services.
Maybe you struggle or know of others who do, please let this be the month in which we pay attention to our own and others mental well being.
Remember you can always download my FREE 10 minute Mind Make Over, just click the home button in the top menu, or click here: https://isobelmcgrath.com/