Introduction: What do we mean by “Mental Wellbeing” in the world of Mental Health?

Ref: https://www.ish.org.uk/mental-health-information-for-students/

I’m a stranger to blogging; just as I am a stranger to writing on topics most would deem personal and sensitive.

But mental illness isn’t something I believe people should ever shy from talking about. I’m no stranger to it, nor am I a stranger to writing in general.

And so here I am talking about it, with hopes you, the reader, would feel encouraged to be more open about your experiences too. Society would be a better place for it – to encourage people to seek help and guidance, rather than suffering through it alone.

So, what do we mean by “Mental Wellbeing?”

We taught from a young age to exercise and eat right. We’re told we’re healthy so long as we maintain good physical health.

So why do we feel physically ill sometimes, for reasons beyond any medical explanation?

You know, the kind of ill you get the morning of an exam, or before a job interview, when your stomach is churning, and your skin has turned pasty white. You’re healthy – but you don’t feel it.

Or the kind of ill you get when you’re having a bad day, and no matter what you do, the grey cloud dangling over your head just won’t quit. Again, you’re healthy, but you don’t feel it.

So what if I told you that this is all due to the power of your mind?

And unlike your physical health, you haven’t been doing much about it to make sure you are actually healthy.

Because yes, drinking water and eating well is very important – I could even argue it keeps you alive – but your mind is what you live for.

This is when your mental wellbeing comes into play – to reflect upon your emotional and mental state and recognising whether you’re in a position to cope productively with the stresses in everyday life.

If you find yourself drowning in that rainy cloud, unable to feel better, there are things that can get you back to yourself once again.

Of course, this depends vastly on whether or not your mental wellbeing is being affected by external or internal factors, and how long this has been going on for.

If you find your sadness is prolonged, this could be due to a mental disorder, such as depression or anxiety, which would require full medical attention.

If you are feeling sad over something you can pinpoint, let’s say, an external factor such as bereavement or being bullied, there are steps you can take to ensure these factors don’t weigh heavily upon your mental wellbeing.

This is something I’ll expand on in my next blog with tips, tricks and ways to discourage poor mental health if you find yourself stumbling down a rocky path now or in the future.

I also hope to give general advice and guidance on disorders such as Anxiety and Depression based on events I, and others I know, have experienced personally.

For now, I give you something to think about: How is my mental wellbeing, and what am I doing about it?

Remember: you are not alone, there is always someone out there willing to listen to you.

If you or someone you know could be suffering with a suspected mental disorder, please follow the links at the bottom of this blog and contact your GP or a medical professional. There are treatment plans you can take to get yourself feeling well and healthy again.

UK Mental Health helpline: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/?WT.tsrc=Search&WT.mc_id=MentalHealthGeneric&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlvT8BRDeARIsAACRFiUTVjfq-l4QSdS7S3qtphI0ducD4RC9Zgs2FiFXQyT0cD-JgJ9SabQaAjNXEALw_wcB

US Mental Health helpline: https://www.mhanational.org/get-involved/contact-us