What is mental wellbeing, anyway?
The way we talk about mental health (usually in hushed tones) can make it seem like it’s something that only exists in the negative: “He’s taking time off work for his mental health”, “She struggles with her mental health”.
It’s easy to conclude that mental health is, at best, a dormant force lying in wait to strike. “One in four people experience a mental health issue each year - now it’s your turn!”
Of course, mental health doesn’t have an on/off switch, and we are all somewhere along the continuum of wellness or illness. Our sense of wellbeing is deeply individual, and it peaks and troughs during the different stages of our lives.
Not all of us will experience a diagnosed mental illness during our lifetime, but we all face challenges to our mental wellbeing. It could be a relationship breakdown, financial struggles, a bereavement, physical ill-health, or adapting to a new phase of life.
“Mental wellbeing is something to strive for, something that takes work - just like physical health.”
The idea of ‘mental wellbeing’ is not a bit of woo-woo fluff. And it’s certainly not a fixed state of unattainable, zen-like calm. Wellbeing makes space for all our feelings and helps us to know what to do with them. It builds our capacity to adapt to the obstacles that life can throw our way. It includes our ability to form and hold onto relationships, how clearly we’re able to communicate our needs, how kind we are to ourselves and others, and how confident we are at solving problems.
Mental wellbeing is something to strive for, something that takes work - just like physical health.
Caring for your mental wellbeing doesn’t always have to be reactive. Just as you don’t have to wait until physical illness strikes before you look after your body, getting support for your mental health can be a way of proactively engaging in your wellbeing. It can give you the tools and emotional headspace to weather the difficult times - but it is a process.
As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Interested in finding out more?
Please do get in touch if you would like to arrange an initial appointment.
