Finding-Support-For-Your-Mental-Health-When-You-Really-Need-It

Mental health support is more available than ever before. However, our access to it can still feel like an impossible mountain in front of us. Reaching out takes courage, and even a small knock to your confidence can prevent you from feeling like you’re deserving of the help that’s out there.

Which is why it’s crucial that we continue to talk about the ways you can support yourself through a mental health crisis, and the kind of help you have every right to reach out for. From taking a mental health day without having to explain yourself, to being able to freely talk about mental health issues with your loved ones without feeling overwhelmed, mental health support is going from strength to strength. 

As such, let’s go through the many ways in which you can reach out below. It’s up to you when and where the support comes from, but simply knowing you have options can make you feel so much stronger. 

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Talk to a Doctor First

If you go to your doctor first of all, you can lay out your concerns on the table for a professional to look at. Here you can find out about the helpful sources in your town and/or neighborhood, including where to find certain therapies or charities to contact that can offer their support. 

Indeed, talking to your doctor should always be your first port of call, just to find out what you’re really dealing with, and whether or not you’d benefit from more serious professional services. 

And not only that! The doctor may also be able to prescribe you some helpful medicine, including things like antidepressants or antianxiety. They may even offer some sleeping medication to help beat back the most troublesome symptoms like insomnia. 

Communicate with Your Loved Ones

Now it’s time to talk to those who are closest to you. Those who know you inside and out, and can offer a little bit of perspective from sources you truly trust. From your partner to your siblings to friends you grew up with, you can turn to any one of them and ask to chat for a bit. 

Make sure they’re in a good place to hear you first of all; you’re more likely to get the space you need to vent and ask for support when you double check the person is able to provide these things. 

But once they say yes and that you can fire away, don’t be shy about letting them know the real problems. Be truthful as much as you can, and don’t be afraid to let your feelings get involved either. Crying isn’t as embarrassing as you might think! And if you need to shout about something, feel free to do that as well! 

There’s Therapy for Everyone

Therapy is something we can all benefit from. Even when you’ve had a bad experience with a certain type of counselling or a therapy professional in the past, there’s still a service out there who can help you. All you need to do is get in touch with them. If you have health insurance, you may even be able to get your sessions covered by it. 

Talking therapies are the main bread and butter of the counselling world. However, there are various other types out there you can try. CBT or DBT are two common approaches, good for addressing a range of mental health troubles, but more practical examples like EMDR or art therapy can also benefit you here. Once again, it’s best to ask your doctor for their opinion and whether or not you need a referral. 

Empower Yourself with a Few Healthy Habits

Healthy habits go a very long way, even when they’re small and you don’t think much of them. Brushing your teeth twice a day is something you couldn’t give less of a thought about, but it ensures your oral health stays in tip top condition! And it’s these kinds of ‘automatic’ habits we’re thinking of here. While they might take a little while to get used to, you’ll soon think no more of them, and give yourself a bit of strength to keep going. 

From what you eat to the hobbies you follow to the amount of time you spend on social media, habits create our routines. For example, we go to bed roughly around the same time each night, even when you don’t consciously mean to. We get used to doing things, and the more healthy these things are, the better equipped you are to deal with daily stresses. 

So maybe it’s time you started including relaxing Yoga moves in your workout, or chewing on some Delta 9o products instead of binging on fatty foods late at night? Exercising on a daily basis, even just gently for about 20 minutes at a time, can have some wonderful knock on effects for your mental health. Similarly, the more you eat right, the more your body has to work with, and that’s all fuel for your brain! 

Helplines are 24/7

If you need to talk right now, you can always get on the phone to a mental health hotline. These are available 24/7 all over the globe, so you never have to worry about fitting a conversation into working hours. You can call in the middle of the night if you need to, and someone will be there to talk things through with you. 

And seeing as these helplines are 100% anonymous, many people find them much more approachable than going to their doctor or seeking out therapy. As such, they’re a good starting point, and can help you build your confidence in reaching out. 

Talk to Your Team

The workplace might be the most intimidating factor when it comes to reaching out. As a professional, working adult, you might feel bad about needing help in the place where you’re most capable. 

However, the more your team knows about what’s going on in your life, the more flexible your work can become. Sometimes all you need is a bit of time to yourself. So talk to the people you work with, and even request some personal time from your boss.

Reaching Out is a Huge Step

Building up the courage to reach out will always be a big step. You can never be sure the reaction you’ll get, and the possibilities in our minds seem to be endless. What if you’re not taken seriously? What if you’re turned away? What if people don’t think your troubles are all that hard? These worries can make us sick to the stomach, so we keep our heads down. 

In reality, these are our own doubts tearing us down again. And they’re hard to argue with when there’s no one else weighing in! Indeed, other people can provide another viewpoint, and that’s why talking to someone else is always worth a try. It’s hard to be objective about your own thoughts and feelings, and having someone provide a bit of care goes a very long way. 

So let this be the sign you were looking for. Reaching out is a huge step, and always will be, but it’s one worth taking. You might need a little bit of professional help, you might just need a shoulder to cry on – whatever it is, it’s out there for you to access. Use tips like those above to help you find the right person to talk to and get the break you really need. 

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