There are days when you are upbeat, energetic, resilient,
optimistic, want to achieve more, meet targets, and motivated. And then there
are days when you may be gloomy, moody, shy, and feel absolutely no motivation
to work. Mental health is a positive
concept related to the social and emotional wellbeing of people and
communities. Like physical health, mental health is not fixed, it is a
process.
Mental health is a continuum for all of us. Imagine a line.
Your right end is positive, healthy functioning and on your left end is severe
symptoms of mental health. During your lifetime, you may move back and forth on
this continuum in response to different situations and stressors. While you go
through this process, there are both risk factors and protective factors that
influence your mental health. These can be individual, related to family, work,
social or other circumstances in life.
Our mental health can be affected by various risk factors
like for example, you may have an argument with a family member, or did not
meet targets at work. Due to the current lockdown challenges, you may
feel lonely because there is a very limited social life. On the other hand,
there are protective factors that help you stay or become well. Examples are
effective communication with your family members, drawing boundaries, time
management at work, and keeping your family and friends close, as well as being
open and talking to others.
When you identify symptoms of stress, it is best to respond
immediately and reach out for help. While there is a stigma towards mental
health, more and more people are recognizing the importance of mental health
and reaching out to professionals.
Mental health professionals, particularly counsellors are
often available through the workplace to help you deal with various life
challenges. When you speak to a counsellor, he or she will help you process
these risk factors or stressors and help you develop protective factors and
build resilience. You may have reservations about speaking to a stranger about
deeply personal issues, thoughts, and feelings. This may be the reason some
people hesitate to seek help. You can always discuss it with a family member.
Keep in mind that family and friends listen and give you advice based on their
personal experiences or what they think might be right for you. Whereas, a
counsellor will help you explore all your options, and maybe suggest a few
newer ones and give you the space to make your own choice. This will make you
feel more confident about the choices you make.
It is never too late to start working on your mental health.
Yes, it is difficult, but it important. Take the first step and reach out to a
counsellor if you are facing difficulties in dealing with anything in life.