Friends, today we have a serious issue on our hands. Many youths are suffering from mental health issues in one way or another. In fact, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.
In the past, depression was traditionally dismissed as a medical issue that wasn’t ‘real’ enough to warrant attention. Today, things have changed. The mental health startup landscape is burgeoning, and we now have many self-help tools on hand that serve as effective aids in tiding us through difficult times.
With more funding allocated to mental health research, there are also new discoveries being made. For instance, it’s been proven that having a healthier gut is linked to a better mental quality of life.
Sometimes, due to high costs, fear of embarrassment, or lack of time, we may fear going to the clinic to seek the help of a psychologist. In this case, what other methods can we explore?
( Music therapy can be self healing process ) Enjoy two hours of listening pleasure
There is always the option of text messaging psychotherapy available, which allows you to contact a therapist virtually, without having to head down to the clinic. On top of this, I’ve personally turned to websites like BetterHelp. This is a virtual counselling and therapy service platform. You can talk to mental health volunteers for free, however, do take note that they are not certified. There is always the option of chatting with a certified psychologist if you don’t mind paying a bit more. I found the chats quite refreshing as the volunteers come from all over the world. It’s interesting how complete strangers from totally different cultures always end up giving the best advice. In fact, I myself had the opportunity to be on the other side of the fence and be the online counsellor as well (the platform gives you this option to do so). I thought this was an invaluable experience. It allowed me to take the correct perspective on my issues, and also be more empathetic in my everyday interactions.
"Life is simple but human beings make it more complicated than it should be. I believe that if we cut through all the noise, most people genuinely just want to be happy but life circumstances are preventing them from doing so "
Life is simple but human beings make it more complicated than it should be. I believe that if we cut through all the noise, most people genuinely just want to be happy but life circumstances are preventing them from doing so. I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone reading this article to definitely rely on the help of a psychologist if you need to share your burdens. If you find visiting a psychologist too expensive, you always have the option of consulting trainee psychologists (e.g. clinics such as Cognifyx Infinitum). Though they are in training, I found that having someone to talk to was still very helpful. I appreciated their patience and sincerity.
On top of clinical remedies, what else can we do to alleviate the mental health crisis? Hobbies like yoga and meditation will be helpful in providing peace of mind. Having a change of environment or staying away from emotional triggers are helpful too. In my case, I found thatreading books about mindset and topics of interest really worked for me. Reading helps to keep you mentally active, and also helps to sharpen your thought process. I also did journaling from time to time, which is helpful for being in touch with yourself. When we re-read what we wrote, we get a better sense of what we are like as a person. We also acquire reflective thinking skills as you find ways to improve, or maybe discover discrepancies in your thinking processes that you never noticed before.
Mental health issues are not to be trifled with. If you have anyone around you who is downplaying these issues, please do not take it to heart. They probably just have a different perspective on things. On the other hand, if you have someone who is over-coddling you, that’s not good either, because they are serving as an enabler. In all circumstances, only you yourself will know what’s best for you. If you need to spend time alone to figure yourself out, that’s not a bad thing either. Take the time to be creative and nurture yourself. Fill your life with joy and love! Always make an effort to think positive and do positive things for other people. Having the aim of being a good human being, will most definitely improve your mindset and way of life.
