Promoting Our Mental Health
Mental Health, something we all have, something that we all need to care for, yet those words are still frowned about by some. It is so natural to hear people talk about their physical health , yet when some one mentions mental health so many people get uncomfortable. It is almost like it is a dirty word.
Because of this, so many people shy away from discussing their mental health and those that openly suffer with their mental health are more than likely to be treated disrespectfully and are segregated from society. There is so much stigma associated with mental health, and that stigma is so damaging.
The first line of treatment is always with pharmaceuticals, which can have so many side effects that they just increase the amount of difficulties that a person with mental health problem experiences. And then there is the dependency that occurs when you are prescribed these medications. It is so important to promote holistic treatments and also to promote self care. We are living in a time where so many hand over the responsibility of their health to others. There needs to be more focus on empowering people, educating them on the different ways that they can support their mental health.
Thank you so much @naturalmedicine for creating this amazing contest, helping us to educate one another, to empower one another.
How Do I Creatively Support My Mental Health
When I read this contest, I immediately thought of how I like to see myself as water, to allow my emotions to flow, to remain open and always embrace that which comes my way, even if it is difficult. I have had a lot of challenges come into my life these last 2 years. I have lost a wonderful friend to Cancer, whilst discovering that my sister is living with cancer as well. This last year I have spend between Spain and Ireland, visiting my sister and family. Earlier this year I also discovered my father has developed early onset dementia and within the last 3 months I split from my partner of 11 years after he began a relationship with another woman. A very young women at that.
So yes I have had periods lately where I have felt very very wobbly. Where I have cried and cried and yelled and yelled, all the while releasing the mammoth amount of emotions that have coursed through my being.
It is so important for me to allow myself to feel everything, to close my eyes and imagine myself as a waterfall or as the Zambezi River in full force meandering but always flowing, always always flowing. I have written before about the healing power of water, about my relationship with it. I have also written a lot on here about how nature has always been my sanctuary, from a very young age when I had to deal with domestic abuse. But I am not going to be talking about that again here, well a little, read on and you will see.
Today I wish to discuss the secret power that we all hold within us, something that we can all access and tap into and help to empower ourselves along the way.
So what is this wondrous thing that I speak of?
It is our IMAGINATION, the power of our beautiful minds, something so simple, yet so powerful!
And so many of us over look it, as it is something that we are discouraged from using as we get older. Yet when we look at many types of natural healing, when we explore the idea of meditation, of vision quests, of psychedelics it is our imagination that we are tapping into again. Our imagination can take us places that allow us to have more control over our feelings, our emotions. Just like I mentioned earlier, how I imagine myself as water, when I need to embrace and accept my emotions. Just like I imagine myself a tree, if I need to draw on my core strength, if I need to be more grounded.
If I am feeling overwhelmed by all that is happening I imagine myself releasing all those things, that have dragged me down, those worries, I release them out into the earth, to the soil, where they can be held and nurtured, where they can be held dormant until I am ready to deal with them.
I close my eyes and I visualize what it is that I need in that moment to help and guide me, for me it is all about the elements , my natural world. For it is there I gather my strength, it is there that I feel held, but it is with my beautiful mind that I can connect to all of that. It is myself that will ultimately heal me and myself that has always healed me.
When we are younger it is our imagination that we use to help us problem solve, to help us find our way in the world. It widens our perspective of the world and it is limitless. Using our imagination allows us to create more space for ourselves, to not just limit ourselves to our physical form. It allows us to look at things from a different perspective, allowing us to create and explore within those spaces that we have given ourselves.
It allows me to feel more connected with nature, so that no matter where I am or whether I am by myself I never feel alone.
Feeling lonely and isolated has such a huge affect on our mental health. But when you open yourself up to the healing energies that we share with nature you realize that you are never truly alone. I know that I am never truly alone.
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Yes! Imagination. Unfortunately the word itself conjurs up images (no pun intended) of fake or false beliefs, something unreal.
And yet, what we're talking about here (and I think you put it eloquently) is the image-forming faculty of our Mind. Chinese philosophy put great emphasis on this faculty, as it was a necessary part of taking action, being the internal inspiration for the Will to take action in the world.
In the past when I've worked with clients, those who've had the best success were the ones who let their imagination flow freely... being able to imagine different possibilities was what helped them change and even improve their physical health situations.
This is great!
thank you @metametheus, yes there is the mainstream media to thank for that, that drive for us to conform and move away from that which we draw our inner strength from. Thank you for your beautiful feedback xxx
We own our body and it is our responsibility, to get sick or to be cured, to be happy or unhappy.
Good Post . Regards
so true, thank you @erilej xx
Today's society is used to always look for the easy way, a few pills and problems solved. Many of the problems that afflict us would be eliminated if there was more education about mental health and emotional intelligence.
yes we need more education and we need to be more empowered, thank you @rikrd3 for your feedback x
I upvoted your post.
Thank you.
@Yehey
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cheers @yehey x
I too look forward to a day when people view mental disorders the same as they do physical ones.
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me too @indigoocean me too! xxxx
Wow that photo the tree woman is absolutely amazing. You have been so brave this year with all the stuff that has happened to you and still managed to pick yourself up to do something to heal others. You embody the element of water and your connection to the natural world is an absolute blessing.
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I know it is isn't it. Thank you beautiful for all you do and the wonderful support you have been to me, much love xxx
Thank you for this wonderful post. You are so right that it seems kindof "shameful" in our society to have mental health problems - or rather to admit them, because I truly think it's a thing most people in this society struggle from! But it's like people think it's normal to not be full of joy and happiness and normal to feel numb and disconnected..
I love your description of water. Wow have I turned to rivers many time to help me out when I was lost, and she has always guided me, cleansed me!
Thank you x
thank you lovely, yes it is such a shame that mental health is treated with such scorn and misunderstanding, like you have said we all struggle with our mental health, but there is so much pressure to appear strong all the time, to just get on with things and not give into how we are really feeling xxx
I often sit in crowded waiting rooms pondering the thoughts and emotional states of others, some are sad, some are angry and some are happy and full of love .. yet the walls are the same ;) Indeed in observing this I realise that (aside from uncontrolled external events/influences) we are masters in creating our own destiny and shaping our own thought processes. It's not the problems that we encounter that define who we are .. but rather how we choose to rise to them.
In terms of mental health I very much feel that our disconnection from nature has played a profound part in unbalancing our psyche, it's just that some notice it more profoundly than others. By removing ourselves from the cycle of life we create our own psychological cycles and when these emotional knots become too tight it exhibits itself as mental illness and depression. Indeed most people are entirely unaware that to this day there is still a debate raging (amongst academics) as to whether depression is a chemical imbalance ..of course to big pharma it's an open and shut case as otherwise they wouldn't be able to sell you their magic pills. Thank you for another beautiful and thought provoking post my friend :)
I agree completely, so many feel like something is missing in their lives and yes it is the disconnection from nature, so much agree with what you are saying about cycles, we need to experience the true cycles of live we so need to and is not we create our own. Thank you my friend, I really do love to connect with you on here and get to hear your wisdom and truth xxx
You touched a sensitive topic. I could not agree more with you that society labels anyone as a nutcase as soon as they open up and speak of their mental health. Our wellness comes from a balanced life, a balance between our body, soul and mind. When people dissociate them and only focus on the body and keep on popping chemicals, it is getting practically impossible to maintain that balance. Not to mention that living disconnected from nature in a world of concrete doe snot do any good to anyone's health.
so true my friend, I hope more and more people realize this and stop handing their power over to others xxx
Great post! Yes it has become somewhat of a dirty word. I’ve struggled for a long time and despite a few attempts of reaching out, I was discouraged by the response. It wasn’t until recently that I began to feel more comfortable talking about it.
My imagination led to me quitting my job and fixing up my car in preparation to a no-end-in-sight road trip. I realized that that was the best way to utilize my imagination. Being stuck in one place so long has left me yearning for the opportunity to get out there and follow that!
I hope things improve for you. Looking forward to reading more of your journey in the future :)