Is Mental Health Static or Fluid?
Due to stigma, societal conditioning, cultural dogma, and a lack of accessible resources, we have a tendency to think of mental health as being in a state of good or bad.
The truth is:
Mental health is fluid and runs across a spectrum of factors.
Our mental health does not exist within a binary state.
Mental health encompasses:
Behavorial, emotional, physical, and social indicators.
Changes in our brain and body.
Mental Wellness.
Mental Health Challenges.
Mental Illnesses.
Let's take a look at those last 3.
Mental Wellness is when one can:
Recognize their own inner resources & abilties.
Cope with every day stressors.
Be satisfied with their presence and performance at work/school/home.
Contribute as desired to their community and circles.
A Mental Health Challenge is when:
There is a major change in a person's thinking, feeling, or behavior which:
Interferes with their ability to function as desired.
Lasts longer than normal and doesn't pass as typical emotions or reactions would be expected to pass.
A Mental Health Illness is when:
Significant and consistent changes in emotions, behavior and/or thinking occur.
Consistent distress and/or ability to function in social, family, or work situations arise.
A set of criteria are met for a diagnosis. A note: Only a licensed professional is qualified to do this.
Here are two truths about Mental Health:
You can have a mental health challenge without having a mental health diagnosis.
AND
You can have a diagnosable mental illness and be mentally well.
In the same way our mental health is a fluid state, so is our ability to cope with every day stressors. A situation that one person can shrug off may set off a mental health challenge for someone else.
Our ability to stay within a zone of mental wellness is affected by:
Genetics
Early childhood conditioning
Environment
External stressors
Hormones
Social support
Everyone is different in this regard. What works for you may not work for someone else.
TL;DR: Be kind. And think before you 'prescribe' your solution to someone else.
As a Creative Growth Coach, a microdosing coach, and a plant medicine guide, I help my clients remove a ton of mental blocks impeding their desired transformation. I’d love to help you develop strategies to get yourself through mental health challenges faster and more effectively. Reach out for a free consultation.