top of page
light blue and turquoise and nature_edited_edited_edited_edited_edited_edited.jpg

Your Mental Health Matters

Mental Health Merchandise To Help Normalize That MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!

Why Does Mental Health Matter?

Mental health is a fundamental aspect of health and well-being! It can affect how people think, feel, and act at every stage of life. It's more than just the absence of mental illness, and it's essential to a person's overall quality of life. ​​

Good mental health allows people to:​

​

  • Cope with stress​

  • Make decisions​

  • Build relationships​

  • Feel happy with life

  • ​Have a sense of meaning​

  • Improve learning & creativity

  • ​Higher productivity​

  • Increase life expectancy​

  • Good physical health​

My Mental Health Journey

For most of my life, I’ve struggled with mental health. When I was a kid, I had extreme anxiety and night terrors. As a teenager, depression and a suicide attempt happened. As a new mom, post-partum anxiety and post-partum depression have both turned into a long-time thing. This sent me into a downward spiral. It got to a point where I was debilitated, stuck in a dark corner of my own mind, barely able to keep up with life. I knew living like this was not okay. ​After a huge breakdown, I finally took the intimidating step to reach out for help, going through the many amazing resources that are out there now. ​

​

Speaking from experience, I want to encourage anyone who is in the same darkness to seek help.​
YOU'RE NOT ALONE.​
YOU'RE AMAZING.​
DON'T GIVE UP.​
YOU DESERVE TO BE WELL.​
I'M GLAD YOU’RE STILL HERE.​
THIS WORLD IS BETTER WITH YOU IN IT.​
For those who have family or friends going through this, be patient and be there for them.​
LOVE THEM.​
DON'T GIVE UP ON THEM.​
DO WHAT YOU CAN TO SUPPORT THEM.​

Suicide awareness ribbon purple and turquoise gradient_edited.png
Suicide awareness ribbon purple and turquoise gradient.png
My Mental Health Journey
broken-crayons-still-color-9oz-scented-soy-candle.jpg

Types of Common Mental Health Illnesses

There are many types, including but not limited to:

  • anxiety disorders,

  • depression

  • personality disorders

  • eating disorders

  • post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • post-partum anxiety and depression (PPD/PPA)

  • body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

  • impulse control disorders

  • dissociation/dissociative disorders

  • disruptive behavior and dissocial disorders

  • phobias

  • neurodevelopmental disorders.

Types

Recognizing Mental Health Illness

Mental health issues can affect a person's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Some signs and symptoms include:​

  • Mood changes: Rapid or extreme shifts in emotions, such as feeling depressed, guilty, or worthless, or experiencing an exaggerated sense of "high".​

  • Changes in sleep: Dramatic changes in sleep, or a decline in personal care​

  • Withdrawal: Social withdrawal and loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed​

  • Difficulty functioning: An unusual drop in functioning at school, work, or social activities, such as quitting sports, failing in school, or difficulty performing familiar tasks​

  • Changes in reality: Difficulty perceiving reality, such as delusions or hallucinations, or feeling detached from your surroundings​

  • Substance abuse: Problems with alcohol or drug use​

  • Changes in eating habits: Increased hunger or lack of appetite, or an obsession with your physical appearance or weight​

  • Changes in sex drive​

nobodys-story-should-end-too-soon-tote-bag-aop.jpg
Recognizing
mental-health-matters-11oz-accent-mug.jpg

Where to Start?

Self-care can include: ​

  • Exercising regularly​

  • Maintaining a balanced diet​

  • Getting enough sleep​

  • Reducing stress through relaxation techniques like meditation or mindfulness.​

​

If you find doing those difficult, don't give up and don't tell yourself that you'll just have to deal with it! There are people who literally go to school and get degrees to help you!​

​

  • Primary Care doctors: If you're not sure, this is always a good starting point. They know you, and they should be able to refer you out if they can't help.​

  • Psychiatrists: Professionals that help through therapy mixed with medication or other treatment means.​

  • Therapists: Professionals that mostly help through talking which can include different forms like CBT, DBT, guided self-help, and more.​

  • Psychologists: A lot like therapists but can go more in depth with the treatments.​

Where to start

Physiology of Mental Health

Mental health issues can affect the brain in several ways, including:​

  • Brain chemistry​: Mental illness can change the brain's chemistry and disrupt communication between neurons, which control muscles, glands, and nerves. ​

  • Brain size and shape​: Some mental illnesses may be caused by changes in the size or shape of different parts of the brain. ​

  • Brain activity​: Trauma can physically alter the brain's topography and increase the brain's response to stressors, such as cortisol and norepinephrine. These changes can contribute to the development of mental illness.​

at-least-im-dressed-bookmark.jpg
Physiology
bluey-inspirational-quote-unisex-tri-blend-crew-tee.jpg

Treatments

All treatments are hard to list since they are based on the exact mental health illness that you are diagnosed with. Despite this, I will touch on a few that are pretty generalized across most mental health illnesses. 

  • Psychotherapy is a good one, though a lot of people refer to this as ‘talk therapy’, there is a lot more to it than that. Psychotherapy explores thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and strives to improve an individual’s well-being. Examples include, but are not limited to; cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and dialectal behavior therapy. Psychotherapy can be done through a psychologist or a therapist. 

  • Medication is another one that is often used for the majority of mental health illnesses or disorders; it does not outright cure mental illness. However, it may help with the managing of symptoms. Always go through proper professionals to get medication; psychiatrists are a perfect start if this is the path you’d like to take. Medication paired with psychotherapy is the most effective way to promote recovery and a psychiatrist can do both of those. 

  • A support group would be good if there is one for the disorder or mental health illness you’re struggling with. It’s always helpful to talk to others going through the same thing as you. Along these lines, peer support is perfect if you know anyone going through similar things as yourself.

  • If you believe you or someone you love is to the point of a crisis, call 988 immediately. This is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The world is better with you or them in it, take care of yourself and never give up. 

If you or they need to go to a hospital, mental health crisis center, or have a case manager, never feel embarrassed about it or ashamed. Better to have them or you still here and go to a place that has the resources to help.

Treatments

Helping Others

It's important to learn about mental illness and dispel myths and stereotypes.​

  • Help others be mindful of their negative talk​: Avoiding hurtful or derogatory language to/about oneself or others who may be struggling.​

  • Showing compassion and urging others to as well​: Modeling compassion by making eye contact, saying kind words, offering a hug, or letting them know of personal struggles to help them feel less alone.​

  • Talk openly​: Talking about mental health in a respectful way can help break the cycle of stigma. Also speaking out against stigma if I hear it.​

  • Support people​: Helping others reach out to people they trust for support and understanding. Encouraging treatment by telling someone you trust that they should schedule an appointment with a therapist or psychiatrist.​​

be-kind-spiral-notebook-ruled-line.jpg
How to help others
breathe-matte-horizontal-poster.jpg

Breaking the Stigma

Just as with other medical illnesses, early intervention can make a crucial difference in preventing what could become a serious illness. ​

Educate yourself​

  • As with breaking the stigma, learning about mental health can help you recognize early signs and be more compassionate and understanding.​

Be patient and caring​

  • Avoid being judgmental and listen without making assumptions.​

  • Encourage professional help​

Ask how you can help​

  • You can ask what would help them or offer to be there for a conversation with a professional.​

Provide support​

  • You can offer information, guidance, and practical resources. You can also give them hope for recovery and express your concern.​

Stay calm​

  • If someone is experiencing a crisis, like feeling suicidal, it's important to stay calm and focus on their needs. You can also ask if there's someone you can contact. If they've hurt themselves, make sure they get first aid. ​

Breaking the Stigma

Once again,

I want to encourage anyone who is in the same darkness to seek help.​
YOU'RE NOT ALONE.​
YOU'RE AMAZING.​
DON'T GIVE UP.​
YOU DESERVE TO BE WELL.​
I'M GLAD YOU’RE STILL HERE.​
THIS WORLD IS BETTER WITH YOU IN IT.​
For those who have family or friends going through this,

be patient and be there for them.​
LOVE THEM.​
DON'T GIVE UP ON THEM.​
DO WHAT YOU CAN TO SUPPORT THEM.​

If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis and you feel like a danger to yourself or someone else, contact the Suicide and Crisis Prevention Hotline ASAP! 

image.png
bottom of page