Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing how we think, feel, and act. It also plays a crucial role in our ability to handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. As mental health is important at every stage of life, we wanted to share an Instagram account called ‘How Mental’ with you. They regularly post memes that serve as reminders to prioritize understanding our minds and living our best lives! Continue scrolling to check out the pictures and the chat we had with California-based clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Firestone, which you will find in between the images. More info: Instagram “These adaptations were developed as survival mechanisms, and it can feel ’life-threatening’ to challenge them,” she told Bored Panda. “An example might be feeling self-protective and guarded in relationships. This may have been the best adaptation we could make to caregivers who were not attuned to us. But in our adult life, it may be interfering with our ability to form close, satisfying relationships.” “As an adult, you are no longer dependent on others, and we can choose to relate to people who can attune to us. But if we put up walls and don’t let others know how we feel or what we want, we reinforce the beliefs that support the defenses we formed early in our lives,” Dr. Firestone, the author of Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion, explained. Of them, 301 million had an anxiety disorder (including 58 million children and adolescents) and 280 million were dealing with depression (including 23 million children and adolescents). Health systems have not yet adequately responded to the needs of those with mental disorders and are significantly under-resourced in many places around the globe. For example, only 29% of people with psychosis and only one-third of people with depression receive formal mental health care. The researchers also found that mental health disorders typically first emerge in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood — the peak age of first onset was 15 years old, with a median age of onset of 19 for men and 20 for women. “We can try new, more vulnerable behaviors, and take a chance on having a different outcome,” she said. “We can develop a sense of inner security over time, challenging our beliefs about how relationships go. To start to identify our patterns, we can look back over past relationships, talk to friends about what they have observed, and look for our role in why things have been difficult.” “The idea is not to blame ourselves … but rather [to practice] self-compassion [and] develop an understanding of how you are getting in the way of getting what you want.” “If you are struggling with your mental health, feeling depressed or anxious, or find yourself using unhealthy coping strategies, therapy may be essential and even life-saving,” the psychologist said, highlighting that seeking mental health treatment is a sign of strength, not weakness. Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
