Similar Posts
Responses to Elmo Show How Traumatized Many of Us Are, And How Few People We Can Talk To About It
What I find interesting about this, beyond the obvious take that many people out there are not doing well, is that if you asked this same question to many of your friends, coworkers, and acquaintances, you probably wouldn’t see the same thing. There’s something about trauma-dumping to a fictional character that allows us to be honest without fear that we are too much for people to deal with. I worry about it all the time. If you asked me how I am on any given day, 99% of the time, I’d say something like “Not bad.” I might admit to struggling the other one percent of the time, but also probably downplay it.
Let me tell you a secret. I struggle much more than one percent of the time. I also don’t want people to worry about me, and I don’t want my struggles to be too much for the people in my life. I make my emotions small to protect other people. I know I’m not the only one.
Sharing – How to help someone having a panic attack: 3 immediate actions you can take
Would you know if someone you know is having a panic attack? Whether it be at work, at some social event, or even within your own home with your family, it can make a huge difference to first know what a panic attack looks like, and then if they agree to your help, what help you can provide.
Australian “Boys Do Cry” Mental Health Campaign
We haven’t been brought up to talk, especially when things are difficult. We’ve been encouraged to “man up” instead. I’m all for having strength, but not talking when it’s necessary is killing too many men for us to continue. That’s true everywhere, and even though I’m not in Australia, I know it’s true there as well. Let’s hope this resource reaches plenty of them.
Sharing – Don’t Just Post About Supporting Those With Depression, Support Them
John ends his post with an important message, one that I echo for sure because his story is something I’ve heard too many times. He talks about “reaching out” to people only to be dismissed. Being told “Oh you’re strong, you’ll get through this”, or that it’s not that serious, and then the struggle to reach out to a hotline or for professional help and be met with some short term strategies, and lack of available resources, etc. is how you “support” depression without really supporting the person in front of you dealing with depression.
Just the other day I saw someone close to me talking about spending 45 minutes just trying to figure out how to set up an appointment with a therapist through the app her insurance has set up for her through her employer, before finally giving up.
This is why we need reminders like this for the people we know, and why we need to remind the entire mental health care industry of this as well.
Shared Links (weekly) July 17, 2022
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What to Say, and Not to Say, to Someone Who’s Grieving – We don’t deal with grief well, we haven’t learned how to handle it for ourselves, let alone someone else. It’s time to learn.
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Researchers surprised to find seven adult health conditions linked to childhood abuse
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Taking a mental health day can be good for you – here’s how to make the most of one
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Call 988: New suicide hotline can help as mental health crisis worsens
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R. Kelly Sentencing: Being Abused Is Not an Excuse to Abuse Others
Sharing – Most Americans think there is stigma associated with mental illness
The headline is just one of many interesting finding in this poll. Personally, what I find interesting is that 73% of respondents know someone with a diagnosed mental health disorder, yet less than 50% are very comfortable talking to their friends about mental health, and the number of people who feel like they know a…
