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Your mental health matters.  This month, we focus on mental health, because for some people the holiday season can bring on all types of emotions, especially if your life is not where you want it to be, or you may have lost loved ones and find it difficult to cope.  Mental health is a fundamental part of overall well-being. It influences how people think, feel, behave, and respond to life’s challenges. While everyone experiences stress, worry, or sadness at times, there are moments when these feelings deepen and begin to interfere with daily life. Conditions such as anxiety, depression, and emotional responses to negative experiences can create a heavy sense of hopelessness. Understanding these challenges (and knowing when and how to seek help) are important steps toward healing.

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During the holiday season, some people suffer from anxiety.  Anxiety is produced usually when worrying becomes overwhelming.  It is a natural response to stress. In small doses, it can even be helpful, motivating us to prepare, act, or stay alert. But, when anxiety becomes persistent, excessive, or difficult to control, it can interfere with daily routines and quality of life.  Anxiety can be triggered by stress, life changes, trauma, health concerns, or sometimes no clear reason at all. Regardless of the cause, anxiety deserves understanding and attention, not dismissal.  So make sure you pay attention to what your body is telling you and get the help and support that you need to deal with it in a better way.

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Some people also feel depressed during the holiday season.  Depression is more than sadness. It affects thoughts, energy, motivation, sleep, and relationships. Someone experiencing depression might feel empty, exhausted, or numb, even during moments that would normally bring joy.  It is important to note that depression is not a personal failure. It is a complex condition with emotional, biological, and environmental components that make some people feel helpless and hopeless, however, depression is treatable.  You have to be willing to push past your emotions to get to your other side of through.  It is okay to have feelings of sadness sometimes, but it is not okay to stay there.   Through professional counseling, who can give you the tools to help you cope with  life challenges, you can feel better.

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Hopelessness is one of the most painful emotional states. It can arise from chronic stress, isolation, unresolved trauma, or long-term mental health challenges. When someone feels hopeless, the future may seem dark or impossible to navigate. They may believe nothing can improve, even when improvement is absolutely possible.

It is important to remember:

• Hopelessness is a feeling, not a fact

• Feelings can change, especially with the right support/help

• Many people who once felt hopeless later found strength, tools, and resources to rebuild their lives
   

Support often begins with an honest conversation with a friend, a professional counselor, or someone you trust who listens without judgment.   It is a really scary mental place to feel hopeless.  Life does get better eventually, but you have to be willing to work towards your life getting better to feel hopeful.  Life events such as loss (job, death, or relationship break-up), conflict, betrayal, bullying, accidents, illness, or prolonged stress can deeply affect mental health. Even events from the distant past can shape how you react to stress today. Trauma can alter the nervous system, intensifying anxiety, panic, or depressive symptoms.   People sometimes minimize their bad experiences, telling themselves “others have it worse.” But pain is not a competition.  If something hurt you, changed you, or stays with you, it deserves attention and care.  GET HELP!
 

Getting help is a step towards your strength.  It is not a weakness.  Reaching out for support is one of the strongest actions a person can take. Talk to someone you trust, join a support group, seek professional counseling, practice mindfulness, journal your thoughts and emotions, and engage in activities that are creative and calming.  Seeking help does not mean something is “wrong” with you; it means you are taking steps toward healing. Everyone deserves support, understanding, healing, and care.  You Are Not  Alone.  The more you share your story with people you trust you will find that there are many people who are going through (or have gone through) similar experiences.   Whether you are experiencing anxiety, depression, hopelessness, or the lingering effects of difficult experiences, you are not alone.  More importantly, you are not without options. Recovery is possible.  Emotions can shift. You can heal.  Life can become lighter again, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.
 

If you or someone you know is struggling and is in immediate danger or thinking about self-harm, please contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline right away. There are people capable, ready, and willing to listen and help you.   TEXT “help” to 988.  Try this book below as well.

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By Dietra Myers