One of the best ways to reduce the stigma that often surrounds mental health is to discuss it more often. Collectively, by having more conversations about our headspaces and how we’re feeling, more individuals in communities as a whole will feel more comfortable in sharing how they’re doing.
With greater mental health awareness and more people speaking honestly about how they’re feeling, a more mindful society can be achieved. Effective mental health solutions can also be distilled through the power of empathetic listening. Starting to talk about your mental health might seem daunting at first, but one of the best ways to begin is by speaking with those whom you’re most comfortable with. Breaking down barriers and letting those who love you learn more about how they can best support you is key to healthily dealing with anxiety or depression. Here are a few of the many ways you can get more involved in mental health discussions and share your current state of mind effectively with friends and family.
Ask to Have a Conversation
Setting up a good time for both of you to talk and asking if they’ll talk with you about how you’re feeling is the best way to begin if you find yourself requiring additional support. Meeting at a place like your own house, their house, or a favorite local coffee shop can offer a cozy, warm, and personable environment for you to feel more comfortable sharing the state of your mental health.
Make sure that the time booked is enough for you to pour out everything you’ve been wanting to let them know about and that both of you are free of responsibilities during the conversation. This will help both of you focus more on the discussion and feel truly listened to. Once the meeting occurs, it’s important to share everything related to your mental health that you’re comfortable talking about.
Let Them Know How You’re Feeling
Once you’ve settled into the heart of the conversation and have gotten through the opening small talk, it’s important that you share how you’ve been feeling with them in detail so they can know how to offer the best support possible. If you’ve been experiencing strong feelings of anxiety, depression, or stress, it’s important for the individual you’re talking with to know not just that you’re feeling these things, but also what you might think could be causing them. They can then offer their sympathy and solutions to you in a more tailored, effective way. Using specific language or crafting analogies may also be helpful in powerfully and clearly communicating your thoughts to the person.
If certain upcoming life events that the individual is also a part of might be contributing to your distressed mental state, perhaps talking your concerns through with them can assist you. They may be able to offer additional insights that can help relax your mind or direct you to other people they know who might have already experienced whatever life event you’re about to.
Ask Them For Support
Support may take many forms, but it’s one of the single most impactful ways to face your mental challenges and know that you have individuals who care behind you each step of the way. Your friend or family member might be able to offer continued reassurance, advice on which support groups to join, or in some cases, even financial assistance.
If substance use is also involved in your struggles with your mental health, ask the person you’re talking to for accountability in staying sober. If you feel you need assistance with finding a professional treatment facility, your family member or friend may also be able to help you research facilities near you that you could contact. It’s crucial to find comfort in the idea that you’re not alone. With friends, family, and communities dedicated to supporting you, you’re able to derive additional strength on your mental health journey.
Allow Them To Ask Questions
Don’t feel obligated to answer anything you aren’t comfortable sharing, but allow the person you’re speaking with to learn more about how you’re feeling and delve deeper. By asking questions, the individual you’re sharing your mental health with can gain more clarity about how you’re feeling and be able to help you more effectively. They might ask about outside influences, timelines, or other general factors that could be negatively contributing to how you feel.
In turn, asking the person you’re sharing with how their mental health is can also help them feel cared about too. If they’re struggling as well, you may find added solace in this and be able to help build them up at the same time. Also, if both of you are dealing with similar mental health obstacles, using the unique perspectives and insight of each person can help you think more creatively to find new solutions together.
Seek Mental Health Treatment at Alvarado Parkway Institute
If you’re struggling with your mental health, it’s important to be aware of all the options for treatment you have at your disposal, including behavioral health facilities. At Alvarado Parkway Institute, our licensed professionals are dedicated to providing the best behavioral health care possible. We’re focused on using the power of therapy and tailored treatments to consistently improve patient outcomes.
Call us at 619-333-7050 today if you have any questions about our programs or services. We’d love to help you get on the road to a better state of mind.
