We All Have Mental Health

The emotions and struggles we experience are not always visible to others, whether through appearance or online presence. Despite the outward appearance of perfection, our lives may not be as they seem. Personally, I constantly worry about my academic performance, especially with the upcoming end-of-year tests. This constant anxiety consumes my thoughts, often keeping me awake at night. There are days when it all becomes too overwhelming, and I feel utterly lost. For instance, when I performed poorly on a test, I managed to hold myself together until I arrived home. However, upon seeing my mom, I couldn't contain my tears any longer. Thankfully, my mom provided some valuable insight. She explained that just like physical health, we all have mental health. It encompasses our emotions, thoughts, and moods. She reassured me that feeling down, angry, or stressed is a normal part of life, and it's important to acknowledge and accept these negative emotions. Just as we experience negative feelings, we also have moments of happiness, confidence, and carefree sometimes. It's a constant flux of positive and negative emotions influenced by our surroundings. Maintaining good mental health doesn't solely revolve around being happy all the time. My mom could relate to the stresses I was experiencing, so when she suggested I take a break from everything and engage in activities I enjoy, I took her advice. I made myself a comforting cup of hot chocolate, snuggled up in a cozy blanket, and watched a movie. Surprisingly, I felt noticeably better afterward. It made me realize that most of us tend to share only the positive aspects of our lives and hide our true feelings. Each morning, I wake up with a barrage of negative thoughts flooding my mind. It takes an immense amount of energy to get out of bed and pretend that everything is okay. As the day progresses, these negative thoughts intensify, making it difficult to concentrate during lessons. Some days, it feels as if these thoughts are a roaring waterfall, threatening to pull me under. The overwhelming nature of it all becomes too much to handle. Initially, I hesitated to confide in my friends, fearing they wouldn't understand. However, when Sasha opened up to me about her own stress, it gave me the courage to share how I'd been feeling. Just having someone listen made me feel understood. Sasha shared some coping mechanisms that had helped her, so I decided to give them a try. Unfortunately, they didn't make a significant difference for me. Even when I tried to spend time with my friends, I still felt a sense of isolation. Activities that used to bring me joy now felt uninteresting. Concerned about my friend André, who had become withdrawn and distant, I sought advice from our head of year. He suggested that André speak with him directly since his negative feelings seemed persistent. Reluctantly, I approached the head of year, as I didn't want to continue feeling so down. He explained that sometimes, overwhelming emotions can be more intense and last longer than our typical daily feelings. These emotions can significantly impact our thoughts, behaviors, and overall well-being, hindering us from living the life we desire. This perfectly described what I was going through. The head of year emphasized that just as we seek help for physical ailments, we should do the same for our mental health. Our overwhelming feelings may arise due to external circumstances or for no apparent reason at all. His words made me feel less alone, and it was a relief to have a conversation about my mental health. I also discovered that exercise has been found to be beneficial when feeling low. Encouraged by the head of year, I decided to join the school football club, where Sasha was already a member. Although the river of negative thoughts still flows on some days, I am gradually understanding my mental health and learning how to cope. Our head of year reminded me that I have a support network consisting of friends, family, teachers, and others at school. They are all there to help, just as he is. I never realized how understanding the people around me could be. Although discussing mental health can be challenging, the person you confide in might be able to offer assistance. However, if you don't feel like talking, that's okay too. You can explore alternative outlets such as writing, sports, reading, art, music, or spending time with a pet. Whatever brings you comfort is worth pursuing. And if you find yourself in the position of being someone's confidant, listen without pressuring or judging them. You don't need to have all the answers. If you ever feel unsure about anything, don't hesitate to reach out to a trusted adult. Talking about mental health doesn't have to be a difficult task. After all, it's something we all experience.