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Sharing – ‘Do All The Things’: A Therapist On The Benefit Of Taking A Holistic Approach To Your Mental Health

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

I think this is a good way to look at self-care. It’s not always one thing. It’s all the things:

“My encouragement is to do all the things. All the things,” she says. “A lot of times, we try to decide where the problem is and then only respond there. So we think the problem is spiritual. Then we amp up our spiritual practices. If we think it’s physical, then we want to either look at medication or get some exercise. When it comes to our well-being, I want us to have a holistic approach.”

“So go to church on Sunday, go for a run on Sunday night, eat well during the week, and go see a mental health therapist,” she continues. “When’s the last time you had a physical? Do all the things. It’s not just one. We are gardens. I love my gardens. And in a garden, you have to have good seeds, good soil, light, and water. Everything’s happening in a system. And I want people to not think of themselves in parts. My spirit is over here, my mind is over there. We are a system. And so take care of every part by doing all the things. Your well-being as a whole is what matters the most.”

I’ve been saying it for years. Any article that claims to identify the “one thing” you need for your mental health is a lie. No one thing works for everyone, but trying everything will help you identify what works for you. The things that are good for you anyway, like eating right, exercising, learning, social connections, etc., will only help. Why not do them?

I think Anita is on to something here. Most importantly, she recognizes that we are complicated human beings. It is unlikely that something as complicated as human mental health can be fixed with one simple action.

Read more. She also discusses the struggle for people of color to trust the healthcare industry, which is valid. The history there isn’t great, and that’s one of the many things that keep minority group members from getting the help they need. But that’s a topic for another post.

https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/holistic-mental-health/

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