May is Mental Health Month
Since 1949, May has been observed as Mental Health Month, a time to highlight awareness about mental health. Every year, millions of Americans live with mental illness; however, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of people throughout the United States and world. More than ever, it is critical to end the stigma around mental health struggles, because that stigma often prevents individuals from seeking help.
Mental Health America, the originator of Mental Health Month, has continued the theme “Tools 2 Thrive” from last year and provided practical tips that everyone can use to improve their mental health and increase their resiliency. The Mercer County Division of Mental Health will share these tips each week. This week, we focus on six tips for processing change.
Change, good or bad, is a guaranteed part of life and is something everyone experiences. Sometimes change happens in big ways when you are not expecting it and/or are not prepared for it. These situations can make navigating your path forward difficult. By providing yourself with tools for processing change, you can adapt more easily.
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Tips for Processing Change |
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Focus on what you can control. One of the most difficult aspects about big change is how helpless it can make you feel. At some point, you will have to accept the change that you are experiencing and focus on what you can control within that. For example, you can control how you react to situations, how you start each day, or how nice you are to yourself and others.
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Write your feelings on paper. When you are processing big changes, your brain may feel like it is constantly racing. It is easy to feel overwhelmed with the things you are feeling and thinking. Instead of holding it all in your mind, allow yourself to release it. Writing things is one of the best ways to do that. Start a journal—jot down a quick list of your thoughts and feelings or write a letter to yourself or someone else. Just get it all out onto paper.
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Keep up your self-care where you can. When much of your life feels different and overwhelming, it is tempting to want to stay in bed or on the sofa and avoid what is bothering you; however, it is important to keep your normal habits as much as possible, especially when it comes to protecting your mental health. The changes you are facing may mean a different routine, but incorporating the small, familiar self-care habits that you know work for you — even it is something simple like showering or taking a walk after dinner — can give you the mental clarity to process the big changes.
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Find support. With any change that you are facing, there is a good chance that someone else has felt the same way that you are feeling. Depending on what you are struggling with, you may be able to talk to friends or family about it, find an online support group, or open up to a mental health professional. Having someone who can listen and provide support can help you through any transition you are working through.
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Tune into the good. No matter what kind of change has come into your life, there is likely some grief that coincides with processing it. Even a seemingly good change like getting a new job can make you grieve the day-to-day interactions you had with previous co-workers. Let yourself grieve, but also try not to get stuck spiraling into the fear, anguish, and negativity that those changes may bring. Instead, try and retrain your brain to think of the positives in your life by practicing gratitude, focusing on the small things that bring you joy, or reframing challenges as opportunities.
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Make plans. It is OK if you are not an incredibly organized person, but when you are processing big changes, it can be helpful to focus on planning. You do not have to stick to your plan perfectly; just starting small with what your day or week is going to look like can help get rid of that uncertainty that comes with change.
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For more information on mental health services in Mercer County or the County of Mercer’s Stigma Free Campaign, contact Michele Madiou at mmadiou@mercercounty.org or 609-989-6529. We also invite you to sign our Stigma Free Pledge and read the archive of the Stigma Free Mercer News newsletters.
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