1 in 4 people will be affected by mental illness in their lives.
2 out of 3 will not seek help.
Why is that?
Is it shame? The fear of being seen as weak?
How about if we rewrite what mental illness is and isn’t.
What Mental Illness Is:
- An indication of some imbalance* in your body. Our makeup is individual (hello DNA) and so how those imbalances are expressed and what triggers them to be expressed in the body will present differently for each one of us.
- It’s an opportunity to look into the cause of this imbalance and get the support you need to bring your health back into balance.
*An imbalance can be caused by one (and often a combination) of several things: chronic inflammation, nutrient depletion, nutrient malabsorption, poor gut health, poor dietary + lifestyle choices, insomnia or an imbalance in your relationship with yourself. (Are you your greatest supporter (ally) or toughest critic?)
What Mental Illness Is Not:
- It is not weakness. You have nothing to be ashamed of.
- It isn’t any indication that you are less than anyone else.
Reaching out for help to deal with anxiety or depression is simply raising your hand and asking for support in this one area of your health.
How to Treat Your Mental Health Like An Olympian
Let's look at the scenario of an Olympian. Each athlete has a goal in mind. In order to reach that goal, they’ve had to raise their hand and ask for support. When they select a trainer or someone to work with and they aren’t getting the results they desire, they look for another.
They keep searching and reaching out.
All in hopes of reaching the goal they have in mind. In fact they'll use many professionals with different specialties like diet, physical conditioning, and mindset coaching.
Does an Olympian tell himself (or herself) that they’re weak to raise their hand to get the help they need to reach their ultimate goal? Absolutely not. Raising their hand shows strength, determination and fierce will.
It’s no different with your health. If your mental health and wellbeing isn't where you want it to be, telling yourself you’re weak for raising your hand isn't helping. It’s keeping you stuck right where you don’t want to be.
Raising your hand when you notice an area in your life where support will help you feel better is nothing short of incredible strength.
It is one of the most beautiful expressions of love.
Are you ready to raise your hand?
"We don't have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to." Brené Brown
How do you support mental health and wellbeing naturally? What would that look like for you? Book your free 30-minute discovery call with me here.
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