One thing I've bumped into on my own mental health journey is that people assume if you don't have a classifiable illness, then you must be fine. That's why I like the term "mental fitness" - it reshapes it in a way most people can understand. Just like our bodies, our minds/brains need training. They need care and kindness and attention - as much as any of the other muscles that make our life enjoyable.
Thanks for adding to the conversation, David. That's a great point you make. Such a simple tweak to the term and it adds more depth. Definitely using it regularly from here on.
Whenever I refer a patient of mine to a psychiatrist or psychologist for counselling or therapy, nine out of ten times the patient would refuse to go. For those on the fence, I usually suggest a walk and to spend at least an hour for themselves (without looking at a screen) every day.
And regarding the glitch/nothing to fix... Something which I read a long time ago. It goes like this.
"We are human beings after all, not human doings. You don’t have to be ‘doing’ something all the time, Just ‘being’ is fine too."
One thing I've bumped into on my own mental health journey is that people assume if you don't have a classifiable illness, then you must be fine. That's why I like the term "mental fitness" - it reshapes it in a way most people can understand. Just like our bodies, our minds/brains need training. They need care and kindness and attention - as much as any of the other muscles that make our life enjoyable.
Thanks for adding to the conversation, David. That's a great point you make. Such a simple tweak to the term and it adds more depth. Definitely using it regularly from here on.
Great post!!
The taboo around mental health is very real.
Whenever I refer a patient of mine to a psychiatrist or psychologist for counselling or therapy, nine out of ten times the patient would refuse to go. For those on the fence, I usually suggest a walk and to spend at least an hour for themselves (without looking at a screen) every day.
And regarding the glitch/nothing to fix... Something which I read a long time ago. It goes like this.
"We are human beings after all, not human doings. You don’t have to be ‘doing’ something all the time, Just ‘being’ is fine too."
Thanks, Raghav.
I think normalising it and championing this is necessary. Glad that there are quite a few of us out there doing so.
And thanks for that quote - brilliant.