6 Lessons I've learnt about mental un-health

Today is World Mental Health Day, an opportunity to educate and be educated on mental health, share resources on how to improve our mental health and help remove the social stigma associated with mental illness.

Having struggled with my own mental health first hand in the last 12 months, here's what I have learnt (with input from my husband) and what I hope will be beneficial in passing on:

1. Signs of Mental Un-health

The World Health Organisation has defined "mental health" as:

"... a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community."

I started noticing a breakdown of my mental health in or around June 2021 but my body had already been giving me warning signs for some time. Here are some of the signs of mental un-health that I initially ignored or tried to stuff away:

• a growing sense of fatigue
• the inability to process and complete simple tasks
• a loss of mental focus and physical appetite
• my usual "zest" for life was decreasing
• an increasing negative attitude towards my work
• it was a struggle to get out of bed and difficult to get to sleep
• socialising with others was more energy draining than usual
• I would regularly overthink and catastrophize situations in my mind

It's only in hindsight now that I can see that if I had paid attention to these symptoms and sought help earlier, I might have saved myself 12 months of struggle.

2. Know you are not alone

The most recent National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing in Australia found that 1 in 5 Australians aged between 16 and 85 years old (20%) had a common mental illness (anxiety, depressive or substance use disorder) at some time during the previous 12 months. This is equivalent to about 4.2 million people, so it is more common than you think.

As I opened up about my mental health struggles, I had a number of people message me privately or share with my about their own challenges in the mental arena.

3. There is no shame in seeking help

Of the 4.2 million people mentioned above, 65% will not seek help due to the stigma associated with mental health problems, fear of discrimination at work, lack of awareness, cultural considerations or not knowing where/how to access services.

When I first started experiencing mental health challenges, I decided to try to "fix" it myself because I didn't want anyone to know I was struggling. I also didn't know anyone personally who had admitted to struggling with their mental health so I felt like I should just be able to push past it and eventually bounce back.

After months of little progress, a tough love conversation with a mentor finally caused me to give in, wave the white flag and ask for help. I realised it took more courage to ask for help than struggle on my own BUT it was also the best thing I did for myself in that moment.

4. There are people who want to help

I'm grateful that when I first identified that something was wrong for me mentally, I had the opportunity to speak to a counsellor via an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) service at my then workplace. The counsellor at the time identified that I was not only burnt out but also likely had mild depression and anxiety stemming from that workplace. She referred me to a GP that gave me a similar diagnosis and a referral to a psychologist.

Though I didn't end up seeing a psychologist, I later engaged with other services such as a mental health coach via the NewAccess program run by BeyondBlue, prayer ministry and regular chats with that mentor with counselling training, the combination of which helped me out of the dark hole that I had found myself in. Finding a psychologically safe working environment also positively contributed to my recovery.

There is no "one-size fits all" when it comes to mental health treatment but the main thing to know is that even if you feel like you might not be able to speak to someone in your immediate circles about it, there are many possible avenues to seek help and many people who want to and can walk with you through this.

5. Recovery is possible

Mental illnesses affect people differently so the recovery journey will be different for each person. For me, it has probably taken me a full 12 months to return to a place where depression and anxiety no longer have the driver's seat in my mind and when a depressive or anxious thought does slip in, I am now equipped to deal with them quickly and effectively.

Recovery is usually not achieved overnight but with the proper help and intervention, recovery is possible.

6. Prevention/Early Intervention Strategies

If I had my time again, I would have sought help earlier but I would have also created more space in my life to look after my mental health. Again, there is no one size fits all but here are some things that I’ve found that help my mental health (basically things that bring me joy):

• walking outdoors and being amongst a body of water
• setting aside time for a conversation with a friend on the phone
• writing down 3 things I am grateful for daily
• reading or creating for pleasure and not for information/work
• playing a Nintendo switch game with my husband

What might be some practical ways you can create space to look after your mental health today?

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I hope the above insights have been helpful and can provide a framework for further discussions with your loved ones or prompt you to get the help you need.

If you recognise yourself as being in a state of mental un-health at the moment, please talk to someone about it and seek help from a GP, psychologist, counsellor and/or reach out to the team of BeyondBlue for assistance or check out the other resources listed at the Mental Health Australia website.

To a life lived well,

Amy

Originally published on www.amyleong.org/blog