Similar Posts
Sharing – What Not to Do: Seven Things to Keep in Mind When Helping Someone with a Mental Health Challenge
I think the entire list of seven things provided by Mental Health First Aid below, is good, but this one, in particular, is something I think we all need to keep in mind:
“Do not be hostile or sarcastic when the person attempts to be responsive, but instead accept their responses as the best the person has to offer at that time.”
I think it’s fair to say that right now, most of us are dealing with some challenges. If ever there was a time to accept that replying to your text, or responding to a question you have might not be the foremost thing on someone’s mind, it’s now.
Between dealing with kids going back to school, and whatever that looks like, protests and violence, constant pandemic concerns around illness or loss of loved ones, and massive employment insecurity, there’s a lot going on that we are all trying to deal with as best as we can. I’d argue that we are all dealing with some pretty huge mental health challenges right now, so if you have people trying to stay in contact with you, to check in, or support you, give them a little grace. The fact that they are even trying right now should say a lot, and I hope we can all appreciate the imperfect efforts anyone puts in.
Sharing – 5 Amazing Benefits of Blogging about Mental Health
I’ve had people refer to me as someone who is surprisingly self-aware. I don’t really think of myself that way, but what I do know is that reading and writing about mental health topics, as well as my own experience in therapy, provides me with constant reminders about the importance of mental health, and how that information either resonates with me, or doesn’t, and why.
I don’t think our current culture really encourages that kind of behavior. We are encouraged to be busy, productive, constantly hustling and then showing it off on social media. Self-reflection? Ha! No time for that.
But there should be time for that. Without knowing ourselves, how can we even start to care for our own mental health?
Sharing – Traumatized Adults May Find Touch, Closeness Less Appealing
This is a few months old, but it’s an interesting study. As much as we know touch can be comforting, and something like a hug can make a huge difference in our emotional well-being, for some sexual abuse survivors, it may not have that same effect. Adults who were traumatized as children may be more…
Links I’m Sharing (weekly)
Five Enlightened Ways to Think About Mental Health The New Look of Survivor Day Powerful display shows pair of shoes for every child lost to suicide Opinion: We Need to Be Trained in Responding to Mental Illness Understanding the Loneliness Epidemic Not Crazy: How I Overcame My Double Standard About Taking Psychiatric Medication True progress…
I am Who I am Despite the Abuse, Not Because of It!
There was no gift involved in child abuse, no silver lining, and no reason for it to happen. It was abuse inflicted on me by another person. Period. That experience is part of me, but not nearly the sum of who I am. I refuse to let anyone define me that narrowly.
Reviews Elsewhere – 10 Best Mental Health Books That Will Completely Change Your Life
OK the headline is a bit of a misnomer, it’s more like 10 little mini-reviews. And, I don’t know if these will necessarily change your life, because that’s a pretty steep claim to make about a book. On the other hand, this list does seem to have some pretty good books in it, some I’ve read or heard of before, some others I had not. So, there may be something on this list that catches your eye and you may want to check out.Â
As Pauline says in the intro:
Mental health is a massive struggle in the United States. Add in quarantine, school, work, bullying, social media, bills, and so many other factors, and sometimes your head isn’t as quick to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Whether you struggle with mental illness or you want to educate yourself – here are 10 of the best mental health books that can completely change your life
It’s always better to be educated about mental health, but right now? It might be the difference between helping yourself or someone you love, and being completely helpless.Â
Try not to be helpless when so many resources are available.Â
Have you read any of the books on this list? What book would you add that did actually change your life?Â
