Get exercise, try yoga or meditation and think of all the good things you have. Would you say that to someone visibly bleeding from their forehead? Would you? The answer should be, without hesitation, no. Yet, people don’t think twice if someone is struggling with mental health, potentially illness, to say, get exercise, blah, blah, blah. In a world that allows variable truths to soften realities and exploit atrocities in a backdrop of trauma bonding via social media, how can we not as a collective be in a flux of varying degrees mental well being?
Our issue with mental health is multifaceted. One is similar to the issue I have to write this. The words “mental illness.” They have bad PR. I have a condition known as Ehlers Danlos. See that is easy, I don’t have to define myself with an illness, I have a condition. People say I have a heart condition; not heart illness. While we have mental health, mental well being and mental illness all kind of mashed together. It was an long effort to have drug addiction and alcoholism classified as diseases and mental illnesses that require treatment in the medical community. That change occurred because research showed both alcoholism and drug addiction change the brain.
Often the trigger for addiction stems from the most common mental illnesses – anxiety, depression or post traumatic stress. I am not a professional however, it appears, Matthew Perry is an example of mental illness. In his book and his interviews, he describes his early insecurity and anxiety and subsequent drug and alcohol abuse. He reportedly spent over 9 million dollars in pursuit of sobriety. The aftermath of his death highlights two aspects of mental health – mental illness and mental well being. While Matthew struggled with a mental illness, those left are struggling with mental well being.
For those who knew him, it was a lost, for those who didn’t, it’s still a loss. The total run time to stream all seasons of Friends is about 80 hours; emotional bonds are formed. We’re like kids who can watch the same thing over and over and become very upset when it is taken away. It’s the loss of familiarity. It’s ok to feel sad. Why do we do this to ourselves. Why do we try to normalize what is out of the ordinary? Can we accept our emotions?
Cord Jefferson in his Emmy acceptance speech as a writer for the Watchman acknowledged his therapist. “Thank you to my therapist, Ian,” Jefferson said. “I am a different man than I was two years ago. I love you. You have changed my life in many ways. Therapy should be free in this country.” In an later interview he talked more about his mental health.
Riffing on your speech, who were you two years ago, and how did therapy change that?
Thanking your therapist in a virtual Emmys speech amid a pandemic? That’s peak 2020
Oh, man. … I’ve struggled with anger issues my whole life. And I think that for a long time, I let anger ruin my life in many ways. And I was unkind to people who loved me and who I loved, and I lashed out and I self-immolated a lot of the time. And through working with [my therapist], I feel not not angry, but just the things that I’m able to do with that anger and the ways that I’m able to channel it are just so much healthier and better.
There are times when people need to rely on carefully prescribed and monitored drug regimens and others need ways to manage a condition. Both are acceptable. The New York Times had an article When Someone You Love Is Upset, Ask This One Question, Do you want to be helped, heard or hugged? If that help veers into mental health, I try to remain silent and suggest professional help. 20% of Americans have a form of mental illness, 1 in 5 is a lot, the kids are not alright. The key is finding the right providers. If you do get help, does it work, if you don’t have help, do you need it and if there is a future where you do, how would you find it.
Many people of a certain age need readers. You would not say, get exercise, eat better, think of all the good things you have and shake it off. Changes in eye sight happen.Consider the same thing with mental well being before saying, get exercise, try meditation and eat right.
Note: I am fine, this is not a cry for help. Really, so please, I don’t need a wellness check. However, when I do mention I am stressed because I have two mortgages, I might mentally slap you into next week if you mention do yoga, meditate and get some exercise.
90% of US adults say the United States is experiencing a mental health crisis, CNN/KFF poll finds
America Has Reached Peak Therapy. Why Is Our Mental Health Getting Worse?
Balancing on Unstable Surfaces 
this!
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