Mental Health Month
It’s been quite a year since last May’s Mental Health month. We’ve lived through a year in a global pandemic, intense racial injustice, and a volatile election season, all of which contributed to a tough year for many of us. The result? A society more than a little on edge and additional pressure on mental health professionals.
Whether you’ve taken advantage of your employer’s Employee Assistance Program or you have your own therapist or mental health care provider, having support when you need it is important. It is clear that taking care of our mental health is critical for our well-being, overall health, and stress levels. I am appreciating the recent efforts to break down the stigma of mental health challenges. I’ve seen a refreshing shift in the approach of the topic, from taboo to normalizing. Who among us hasn’t had mental health challenges?
Personally, I have seen a therapist off and on during various points in my life, beginning during a stressful time in college. I remember that freeing feeling of talking to someone who I knew cared about me, but who didn’t have a stake in the outcome. No baggage, no expectations, no pressures. That first experience with therapy was completely eye-opening for me, and it gave me the confidence I needed to work through a challenging time. Since then, I have enlisted therapists to help me through other stressful times in my life. The result has always been both supportive and a big relief.
How do you manage your stress and your mental health?
