World Mental Health Day: Why we should take our mental health seriously

“How are you doing?” Most of the time, when there is no obvious – i.e. physical – suffering, we answer this question with a simple “Good”. Steep thesis, but often it’s an outright lie. These days we are confronted with a number of crises that are so omnipresent that they do not even need to be repeated in this text. The result: The present begins to take its toll on our well-being.

One more reason to finally focus on our mental health. And no, that doesn’t mean what has been happening for months: more public attention for depression and other mental illnesses. This is of course also right and important – and should definitely remain part of our social interaction. But another level of attention is much more important: the individual.

Only other people have depression

We now regularly read in the media about people who have mental illnesses. And yet we tend to take our own mental health for granted – and prefer to suppress impending imbalances instead of taking care of our psyche. So the stigmatization in our society is becoming less, while the stigma is still stuck in our minds.

A depression? It only affects others. Anxiety disorder? After all, everyone is a little afraid. Eating disorder? Nonsense, I have everything under control! We humans are true masters at putting our mental health on the back burner until our soul literally screams for help. It is not for nothing that the waiting lists of psychotherapists in Germany are currently mercilessly overcrowded.

We are what we think

Experts also assume that the number of unreported cases is high. In other words, people who struggle with themselves every day but still don’t think about seeking professional help. Although the key to a better life is often just a phone call – and, admittedly, some waiting time – away, many people choose to simply endure their suffering.

Sure, everyone has bad days. But we still shouldn’t be content to struggle from one day to the next. Nobody has to live a life characterized by exhaustion, depression and hopelessness. Because life has so much more to offer if we are only willing to tackle the problems. And yes, especially when these are problems related to our psyche.

You may have heard the saying: “We are what we think.” It’s true. The way we look at the world essentially determines how we perceive and experience our entire life. But if depression or anxiety disorders cast a dark shadow over this perception, then this wonderfully colorful, varied and lovable world in which we live quickly becomes a horror trip.

When the negative takes over

A scenario that far too many people are currently experiencing. This is mainly because it is so difficult for us to act in a timely manner when there is a shadow over the sunny side of life. Because we have all learned that life is not a pony farm. But it’s not a battlefield where there are only losers. Life is colorful. Unfortunately, due to evolution, we tend to see the negative and overlook the positive.

But if the negative becomes so overwhelming that you hardly notice anything positive in your life, then you quickly feel lost in today’s society. After all, it is suggested to us everywhere that only a functioning and hard-working member is a valuable person. While physical suffering is still tolerated as an “excuse” for failure, things are still different when it comes to psychological problems.

This is mainly due to the image of psychiatry that we were given in our cradle. Who doesn’t know the cliché of the madman in the padded cell who has lost control of his life? Even though it is so unrealistic, it has stuck in the minds of many people. This leads to a basic problem: Anyone who has a mental illness these days can use many role models on social media and in the media, but often still cannot accept that they are affected themselves.

The problem with self-stigmatization

Self-stigmatization is often too serious. It is no longer just the acceptance of the existence of mental illnesses in our society, but also the recognition of the fact that one now belongs to the circle of those affected. That you are suddenly part of a minority that walks through the world with a suffering that is often invisible to other people. A world that is otherwise primarily concerned with what is visible. Above all, this requires courage.

Yes, we live in a harsh society that actually longs for more gentleness and understanding. But as long as we don’t start using exactly these attributes when dealing with other people, nothing will probably change. So: be careful. Have understanding – with yourself and others. Show compassion and take warning signs seriously. This is the only way that the collective mental stress can eventually give way to healthy and satisfied coexistence.

The thing is, we all have worries. We all have problems and fears that sometimes make our lives difficult. We struggle with decisions we have made or not made. Fighting with people who have crossed our path and left wounds. Or procrastinate about the life we ​​have chosen. However, sometimes these normal feelings take on dimensions that go far beyond normal. And yes, that can really happen to anyone. No one is exempt from blows of fate, no one is safe from mental or physical illness.

Grow beyond yourself!

It is all the more important that we treat ourselves and each other carefully. People with mental illnesses are not weak or less worthy, they simply have an illness. As soon as we truly understand and internalize that mental problems do not change the value of a person, we create space for a new way of dealing with our own worries.

If we can unravel the knot in our heads when it comes to mental health, if we understand that there is nothing wrong with not being at peace with yourself and feeling needy and weak, then we get it we have the opportunity to really grow through personal crises. And who knows, maybe at some point we will literally grow beyond ourselves – as individuals and as a society.