It's the M letter today - and I would like you to think a little more about mental health and wellbeing.
Our mental state is something that we can take a bit for granted. It is - as had been highlighted quite a bit in recent times on media platforms - also one of the most insidious and difficult health issues to 'get our heads around' (forgive me that, please!)
For those who may have missed the fact, I spent a significant part of my life in the health profession in counselling mode. People were often amazed; they would come along for a little skin condition or a headache or whatever, and through the process of homoeopathic interview, it would soon become apparent that the rash or temple pain were only the surface of deeper things. There were several cases in which no actual medicine was prescribed because the counselling was helping the healing.
Of course, not everyone can afford to attend such sessions. How does one obtain solid information about mental health without getting lost in a mire of self-help pseudo-psych pages, maudlin chatrooms or even downright dangerous bulletin boards?
Well, it would always be my recommendation that you pull together the funds to at least attend one session with a counsellor or related therapist and make it clear that it is beyond you financially and request that part of the outcome of the session you would like is advice on free or discounted services and groups recommended by that practitioner. If they are worth their dosh, this will be no problem for them. (You can establish this at time of making the appointment so that the practitioner also has the ability to say 'no' if they cannot accommodate you in this manner and you are then not out of pocket.)
There ARE all sorts of valid and useful information facilities and free services available in most places. I am particularly impressed with MedCircle in their approach to those who have bipolar and other more complex issues of this kind.
If you live in the UK, there is a good starter level of support via the NHS.
In Australia, MindSpot is the place to begin if you are feeling low. For more advanced mental health issues, SANE Australia is the place to go.
If you live in the USA, this page has some useful links. I found this MHA site also worth having a look around.
Wherever you live in the world, there will be resources - at the very least your personal doctor ought to be able to point you in the right direction. Do not ignore constant low moods or ongoing anger. They WILL make you ill in all sorts of ways.
Be good to yourselves!
Our mental state is something that we can take a bit for granted. It is - as had been highlighted quite a bit in recent times on media platforms - also one of the most insidious and difficult health issues to 'get our heads around' (forgive me that, please!)For those who may have missed the fact, I spent a significant part of my life in the health profession in counselling mode. People were often amazed; they would come along for a little skin condition or a headache or whatever, and through the process of homoeopathic interview, it would soon become apparent that the rash or temple pain were only the surface of deeper things. There were several cases in which no actual medicine was prescribed because the counselling was helping the healing.
Of course, not everyone can afford to attend such sessions. How does one obtain solid information about mental health without getting lost in a mire of self-help pseudo-psych pages, maudlin chatrooms or even downright dangerous bulletin boards?
Well, it would always be my recommendation that you pull together the funds to at least attend one session with a counsellor or related therapist and make it clear that it is beyond you financially and request that part of the outcome of the session you would like is advice on free or discounted services and groups recommended by that practitioner. If they are worth their dosh, this will be no problem for them. (You can establish this at time of making the appointment so that the practitioner also has the ability to say 'no' if they cannot accommodate you in this manner and you are then not out of pocket.)
There ARE all sorts of valid and useful information facilities and free services available in most places. I am particularly impressed with MedCircle in their approach to those who have bipolar and other more complex issues of this kind.
If you live in the UK, there is a good starter level of support via the NHS.
In Australia, MindSpot is the place to begin if you are feeling low. For more advanced mental health issues, SANE Australia is the place to go.
If you live in the USA, this page has some useful links. I found this MHA site also worth having a look around.
Wherever you live in the world, there will be resources - at the very least your personal doctor ought to be able to point you in the right direction. Do not ignore constant low moods or ongoing anger. They WILL make you ill in all sorts of ways.
Be good to yourselves!
Oh my word I had no idea of the connection between mental well being and physical well being.
ReplyDeleteHugs Cecilia
Hari om
DeleteIt can be a 'chicken/egg' thing. However, there is no question that people with chronic conditions often develop a level of depression. Then those with mental disorders may present with lowered immunity. Further there is the complex relationship of body and mind which continues to confound ...Y xx
I like the term well being which to me covers both physical and mental health. Some time I'll even talk about spiritual health which falls under I guess mental health.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
Very true - so many of our physical ailments can be traced to an underlying mental malfunction. Great post with all those links.
ReplyDeleteMom will post a video of Piper singing once he starts:) He has only been here since yesterday. He is peeping and trilling away, and we think he will soon burst into a sweet melody.
Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber, and Tweets from the Newbie Piper
It's interesting how, at work, over the past year we've suddenly been hearing a lot more about mental health (especially stress and anxiety) - signs on notice boards, emails advising where to seek help, how to support colleagues etc. A positive change, I think.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
yes... anger and bad mood is like a visur and it can infect our soul and the soul of the peeps around us...
ReplyDeletemy primary doctor is a DO not and MD and is osteopathic and homeopathic medicine. I know it can work for some.
ReplyDeleteThere was an interesting Twitter discussion. Someone had lost a friend to self-harm and depression. She was angry at what they had done. People surely do not understand.
ReplyDeleteLove with the capital ELL surely helped get me through the years of counseling needed as a result of childhood sexual abuse. PTSD treatment using the rapid eye movement desensitization process stopped the nightly nightmares. That treatment was part of a chronic pain clinic month long treatment in 2002. One of the things I learned was stress can be a contributing factor to some forms of arthritis.
ReplyDelete