Mental Health: One Element of Healing and Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a time for us to pay attention to our own mental health, as well as that of our loved ones and communities. Mental health affects everyone. Whether we are extending support, raising awareness, or working to extinguish stigma, we all have a part to play.
Since 1949, we have been discussing mental health, but it seems we have isolated it from overall health and wellness. Our culture often focuses heavily on the mind while neglecting other areas of health.
We are a combination of physical, emotional, and spiritual states of being. By focusing solely on mental health, we may give the impression that it's the main component of good health. But this view limits our understanding of how all these states are interconnected.
A Holistic Approach to Wellness
If we are going to master mental health, we need to expand how we think about it. We are not just our minds; we are also our bodies, and the two are closely connected. Just like a car that flashes warning lights when it needs service, our bodies give us signals when something is wrong.
Unfortunately, we are often not taught to pay attention to these signals. Instead, we tend to minimize or ignore symptoms that are actually our bodies' way of asking for attention.
Have you ever had irritation in your gut? What about heart palpitations? Shortness of breath? Pain in your chest or restriction in your throat?
Of course, we should rule out any serious physical ailment, but we cannot dismiss these signs by concluding, “It’s all in your head.”
No, it’s not. It’s in your body, and your body is trying to tell you something.
Learning to Listen and Reading the Signs
What if that gut irritation is telling you not to trust someone in your life? Heart palpitations or shortness of breath might indicate you need more space to think and breathe. A tight throat could mean you have something to say but feel unheard or invalidated.
What is your body trying to tell you?
Close your eyes. Tune in. Listen.
Is there a pain or an ache? Often, we try to solve symptoms without understanding the root problem.
In her book, Anatomy of the Spirit, Carolyn Myss outlines seven stages of healing and teaches readers how to listen to their bodies. According to Myss, aligning our mind, body, and spirit is crucial for health. The stress we experience, the old paradigms we have grown up with, and our current attitudes and beliefs all contribute to our health.
She believes that the energy we feel contains information that guides us on our healing journey. Discomfort in our body can signal issues like a lack of belonging, relationship problems, emotional powerlessness, or a disconnect from our sense of self.
Daily Practice
We don’t always have to wait until all the lights on the dashboard are blinking before we intervene. In fact, maintenance is great for our health.
Do you have a daily practice? It could be as simple as drinking a glass of water in the morning. Just as a car runs better with regular attention, we can improve our health by incorporating small daily habits.
You might already be doing things each day that contribute to your overall health without realizing it. For example, we don't often think of filling our gas tank as car maintenance, but it's essential for smooth operation. Be intentional about your self-care. It sends the message that you care, and your body will respond positively.
Morning coffee warms the body; its pleasant scent grounds you for a good start to the day.
Keeping your work area tidy lets the mind know that there is order in a chaotic world.
Eating dinner as often as you can with people you love reminds the emotional mind that you belong and are loved.
Short periods of solitude can bring us down from breaking through the distress barrier into hyper-arousal (anxiety). Read, breathe, pray. These are optimal for soul health.
We all have daily habits that keep us healthy, but we often only notice our health when it's in crisis.
This May, take time to recognize the small things you do each day that keep you going. Notice how you care for your body, mind, and soul. Small actions can make a big difference in the long run.