Mental Health Awareness Week: Gratitude
This week (18th-24th May 2020) is Mental Health Awareness Week. Already, there have been an incredible number of people sharing raw, honest stories of their journeys, development and struggles (alongside the triumphs) associated with life with a range of different mental health issues. This has since exploded into the creation of further spaces in which more people are feeling able to voice and exchange their experiences, no matter what these may be or how ‘major’ or ‘minor’ these individuals may deem their experiences to be.
I see this as particularly important with everything that is currently going on in our world, especially in such a widespread show of support on popular social media platforms which can be known for bringing out or showcasing the worst in some people (although fortunately, as evidenced recently, these platforms are also such powerful tools in bringing us all together when we need it the most).
Those who face hardship and difficulties stemming from mental health issues in general may particularly find themselves to be struggling in these times of great uncertainty, turmoil and instability. It is so important to allow ourselves to feel and experience all of this, particularly as the situation of lockdown and Covid-19 is such a new experience for us all that means we don’t always feel like there is much we can gain and learn from past events that is applicable to our current lifestyles. This can leave some of us feeling as though there are not many factors which we can take comfort in during these confusing, ever-changing times.
To push away these thoughts and concerns that we may have does not make them smaller or less impactful, nor does it eradicate them from our lives entirely; it simply forces them back so that we have to deal with a potentially more devastating reaction at a later date. To allow ourselves to go through the motions and find these safe spaces to talk openly and frankly is paramount.
Something that lockdown has brought to my attention even further is the importance of gratitude (when and where we feel we can utilise it). In these times of intense uncertainties, having such thoughts related to gratitude can help ground us and act as some kind of anchor; at the very least this can be comforting and familiar, but for many, it can act as a way of remaining in touch with the important aspects of ourselves that many may otherwise feel are becoming obscured by our lives being altered so drastically. Attempting to make the active decision to turn our attention to the positives in our lives-especially when this way of thinking is actually turned into a habit-can really alter our lives for the better.
That’s not to say that it is easy to begin with or that it doesn’t require some kind of effort but I have personally found it to be so rewarding and it is very worth giving it a go. Simply writing a short list first thing in the morning of a few of the people and/or things that you are grateful for and appreciate in your life can be a great way to start the day and give you a boost, as well as training your attention to turn away from dwelling on the negatives (within reason) and focus more upon all that we are grateful for.
Lists do not have to be complicated, nor the process time-consuming: it can be as simple as throwing the first thoughts you have in the morning into the notes of your phone. It is also highly important during lockdown that we do not put any undue stress and pressure on ourselves to do this every day, as obviously some days are fraught with more difficulties and changing events. However, this technique is one that I can’t recommend enough that we all try, especially when carried out over a period of a few weeks to allow it to become a part of your routine.
