Mental Health Matters

Mental Health Awareness Month isn’t just about raising awareness — it’s about changing the way we talk about mental health, support one another, and take action. Today we’re going deeper: what mental health really looks like, why silence is dangerous, how to recognize when something’s not right, and what you can do — starting today — to move toward healing.

Mental health affects all of us. Whether you yourself are struggling, or whether you know someone who is- addressing mental health is imperative, as it’s about how we feel, how we cope, how we connect, and how we function — when others see us, and when no one else is watching.

I want to start with a phrase that I hear a lot: It’s okay to not be okay. Now, I don’t believe it’s truly okay to not be okay. What I believe is: it’s okay to admit when you’re not okay — because honesty is the beginning of healing. But staying in that place of despair, disconnection, or depletion without support? That’s not okay. That’s survival. And we all deserve more than just surviving. I am going to be honest, sometimes I feel like I am just surviving, not thriving. Life changes for me- changing my career, empty nesting, the lack of a partner for support and sharing- all of those have affected me profoundly. Some days I feel like I’m just going through the motions, and much of the time, I don’t want to leave the house. I talk to people every day who feel exactly the same way, and that is not okay. We need to understand and address our mental health, so that we are enjoying life. Everyone deserves happiness. 

Let’s discuss what mental health is: Mental health isn’t just the absence of mental illness. It’s your emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

It’s how you handle stress.

It’s how you relate to others.

It’s how you make decisions, solve problems, recover from disappointment, and respond to joy.

Mental health affects how you show up in your relationships, in your work, in your parenting — and in how you show up for yourself.

And like I mentioned, many of us are walking around not okay. We’re burned out, we’re anxious, we’re exhausted, we’re disconnected — but we’re pretending we’re fine.

Why do we do this? Because we’ve been taught that being strong means being silent. That needing help is weakness. That we should just “get over it” or “count our blessings.”

But strength isn’t silence.

Strength is truth.

And truth sounds like:

• “I’m not sleeping.”

• “I don’t feel like myself.”

• “I’m snapping at people I love.”

• “I feel numb all the time.”

• “I don’t know how to keep doing this.”

Those are some signs that your mental health might need attention.

Let’s discuss some other signs. These don’t have to be dramatic. A lot of the time, they’re subtle.

Here are a few to watch for:

• You’re always tired, even when you sleep.

• You feel anxious or overwhelmed by small things.

• You’ve lost interest in things that used to bring you joy.

• You feel emotionally numb — not happy, not sad, just… flat.

• You isolate or withdraw — from texts, calls, social events.

• You’re more irritable than usual.

• You’re struggling to concentrate or make decisions.

• You feel hopeless about the future.

If any of those are familiar, you’re not alone. I can say truthfully that I have felt many of those emotions. This means your nervous system, your brain, your body — they’re telling you something. And it’s time to listen.

But why don’t we get help when we need it?

There are a few big barriers:

1. Shame — We don’t want to be seen as weak, dramatic, or “not grateful enough.”

2. Comparison — We think, “Other people have it worse. I shouldn’t complain.”

3. Fear — Of what people will think, or what it will mean if we really name what’s going on.

4. Burnout — We’re so depleted we don’t even know where to begin.

5. Lack of support — We don’t know where to go or who to turn to.

6. We just don’t want to take the time to take care of ourselves. We feel like we just need to deal with it. There are other important things to deal with. 

Here’s what I want to say to all of that:

Asking for help is strength.

Struggling doesn’t mean you’re weak — it means you’re human.

Your pain is valid, even if someone else has it “worse.”

You deserve support, no matter what you’re going through.

And you deserve to take some time to address your needs. 

Let’s talk about what does help. I mean real, practical things that support your nervous system, your emotions, and your soul.

Here are a few powerful, doable things:

• Tell the truth. Start with one safe person. A friend, a partner, a coach, a therapist. Naming what’s going on takes courage. If you start talking to a trusted person, you will probably find that you are going through some similar experiences. I cannot stress enough how I’ve found peace in knowing that I’m not going through things in isolation. Others may understand you, and there’s strength in that. 

• Focus on the basics. Sleep. Nourishment. Water. Movement. These aren’t extras — they’re foundational. I know that we say getting sleep is crucial to our health but truly making an effort of setting a bedtime routine so that you can sleep- that’s critical. Making sure that your body is receiving a well-rounded diet is also huge. If you’re only eating convenience foods, you’re probably not getting the nutrients you need. Our diet can make us invigorated, or it can deplete us- take care of yourself in that way. And that means also making sure that you’re drinking enough water too. When I say movement- I don’t mean you have to vigorously work out. Maybe you just go for a walk, do some stretches- get outside. Do something where you’re moving even just a little. When you’re feeling down or struggling with your mental health, sometimes even getting up to go outside seems to be too much- but that’s exactly what you should be doing. Make yourself go for a 10-minute walk if you can. 

• Practice “micro-rest.” Even 3–5 minutes of stillness, deep breathing, or silence can calm your system. I’ve said before that sometimes doing nothing is actually doing something for yourself. If you need to just “be” for a few moments- do that! 

• Say no. If your calendar is making you miserable, it’s not sustainable. Boundaries protect your peace. You need to be able to say no without guilt. It’s okay to not be everything to everyone. 

• Get help. Whether it’s therapy, medication, a support group, coaching — healing is not something you have to do on your own. 

If you’ve ever said, “I don’t even know where to start,” here’s one simple place: Ask yourself — what do I need to feel better today, and what’s one small way I can give that to myself? You’re giving yourself the power in this instance.

I want to leave you with this reminder:

You don’t have to hit rock bottom to get support.

You don’t have to explain or justify your pain.

You don’t have to stay stuck.

You are worthy of joy.

You are worthy of peace.

You are worthy of showing up as your full, human self — not just the version that makes other people comfortable. It’s not selfish to think of yourself and to put yourself first. You’ve heard the phrase- you can’t pour from an empty bucket- or the airplane speech- put your mask on before helping others with theirs. You can’t be yourself, when you have nothing else to give- so take care of you.

Thank you for reading, and make sure to make yourself a priority!!