Mental Health at Work

Let's start simply - Mental Health is Health. We are one (whole) person and the way we feel emotionally impacts the way we feel physically (and vice-versa). I know you know that and...

Am I the only one who has shown up at the primary care doctor complaining of headaches, completely avoiding the reality that I was so deep in a stressful period of my life that those headaches were likely stress headaches? (True story from my graduate training years)

Or, your tummy upset and you feel nauseous or are experiencing diarrhea and worried about some terrible gastrointestinal (GI) disease you may have when you have also been sad or distressed in other ways?

Even if you have a legitimate physiological challenge, how you are coping and managing it can change your experience of it because, well, we are one WHOLE person and mental health is health.

More than 1 in 5 of us live with a mental illness. That's more than 20%. Big, real numbers. And the more we talk about mental health, the more likely we are to help one another feel well - both mentally and physically. Check out my recent post about this.

Here are some things to be on the lookout for in yourself and others:

• Emotional/Cognitive: Getting angry/frustrated more often? Low on patience? Or, avoiding things that used to bring joy? Trouble concentrating?
• Physical: Having any of these symptoms: headache, upset stomach, unintentional weight loss/gain, low energy?
• At work: Noticing procrastination (more than usual!), apathy, withdrawal, fear/avoidance, absenteeism?

If you notice any of these in yourself or others, first, pat yourself on the back for noticing. You are aware. Awareness is power!

Then, have some compassion/self-compassion, and next, talk about it. Find a safe person and space and talk about it. Mental health is health and we wouldn't hesitate to talk about our backache or broken arm - let's talk about our sadness, our stress, our worries.

The more we share, the more people we help, including ourselves!

#mentalhealth #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #healthcareonlinkedin #linkedinnews Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)