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“What happens when people open their hearts?"
"They get better.” - Haruki Murakami

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Communication is critical in many elements of mental health management. Our mental well-being includes the emotional, psychological, and social components of our lives. Unfortunately, communication for mental health can be complex, challenging, stressful, and uncomfortable. Because of social stigma and criticism, most of us overlook our mental health concerns, forcing us to stay silent and adding to our current troubles. In fact, many people who experience mental health concerns find it difficult to initiate seeking a professional therapist. While it's difficult to talk about our suffering, it's far more difficult to suffer in silence.

Why is Communication Important for Mental Health?

Communication is the act of creating, transmitting, and interpreting messages. Interpersonal communication refers to the sharing of information between two people. Most of what we know about communication and individual well-being is focused on the importance of interpersonal interaction in determining quality of life. Effective interpersonal skills are the key to forming and fostering enduring friendships and partnerships. These connections have the potential to become your support system , providing you with effective social support when you need it most. Our interaction behaviors significantly impact our happiness and capacity to develop and sustain a high-quality existence. When we can speak openly and freely with each other and with ourselves, we:

Reduce anxiety and stress.

Improve relationships by making everyone feel heard.

Make others aware of our needs.

Develop self-assurance in ourselves and our interactions.

Learn about other people's needs so that we can respond more effectively.

Learn to compromise while staying loyal to ourselves.

Solve problems faster because everyone is on the same page.

Laugh more together now that we're closer and more optimistic about one another.

Communication is essential to our happiness and quality of life, yet it is not always simple.

How does lack of communication impact mental health?

Relationships-romantic, familial, and platonic-may be one of the most powerful sources of contentment and stress alleviation when they are at their finest. They may provide good moments, maintain our spirits, and provide a support system when circumstances are challenging.

At their worst, relationships can sometimes seem harmful and be a considerable cause of poor mental health. A large part of what may make any of these relationships beneficial, pleasant, and helpful is transparency and genuineness, that makes up healthy communication between each party. Unfortunately, things aren't always easy. Bumps in the road and challenges in any of these relationships can lead to them being unpleasant or outright toxic over time, producing stress, worry, or depression. Minor conflicts can be addressed swiftly and easily if communication is honest and transparent. When communication is unhealthy, small issues can snowball into larger ones, and anger can fester.

What Is the Appropriate Way to Communicate with Someone Struggling with Their Mental Health?

When a person is mentally distressed, communicating their mental health requirements becomes much more challenging. And if the person is merely listened to and not heard when talking or validated, it becomes much more difficult to open the conversation the next time. Being a patient listener and using supportive language is the greatest approach to connecting with someone dealing with their mental health. It is possible to communicate despite the obstacles if you keep things simple. Consider these strategies:

1. Pay attention to what they say.

Listen for the exact feelings they are expressing, as well as the facts of their narrative. The different events, interactions, and persons engaged in stressful circumstances are important, but what matters most is their emotional reaction to the specifics. It may be hard to change the circumstances, but you may attest, affirm, or calm their emotions. As a result, listening to how people feel is just as essential as listening to the exact events that cause their feelings.

2. Put yourself out there for them.

When someone has established their confidence in you and seeks to approach you, make yourself available to them. Give them your time and let them know that you are accessible to them whenever they need to voice their concerns. When communicating, remember to be there first and foremost. Use active listening techniques, such as echoing what you've heard from the other person. Try to validate sentiments, and make sure you're listening as much as you want to be heard. It is well worth the effort. This will encourage them that they made the correct decision in opening up.

3. Ask about their needs.

Rather than assuming what would be beneficial to your loved one, ask them openly, "How could I help you?" or "What would be of use to you right now?" Remember that everyone's definition of support is different, and what you would need when you're struggling may not be the same as what someone else would want when they're going through a difficult time.

4. Don't make comparisons to other people's experiences.

Resist the urge. While mentioning those things could help normalize their experience and make them feel less alienated, they can also have the inevitable consequence of pressing them to get over it or belittle how they're feeling. Toxic positivity and comparisons to others might propagate the notion that your loved one's issues are insignificant.

Strategies for Overcoming Communication Barriers

Communication must cut both ways when offering support to someone struggling with mental health. A communication barrier stops either party from comprehending what is being spoken to them. Communication barriers can be addressed by:

Eliminating perceptual discrepancies and making your ideas crystal clear before communicating.

Determining the best time and place to communicate with the individual.

Using an easy-to-understand language

Considering your mannerisms, tone, and message content

Acknowledging whatever emotional reactions the individual may have to what you've said.

Conclusion

Communication is more than talking; it is also about hearing the other person and feeling understood. Communicating effectively fosters trust, enhances problem-solving skills, and promotes emotional and social well-being. Being a good listener and using supportive language are the greatest ways to connect with someone dealing with mental health.

Avoid dismissing the person's experiences or advocating that they just modify their emotional state. Instead, concentrate on being present for the individual and providing your help. Even better, is on hand to assist! Sesh offers you expert assistance through virtual support! To get started , simply sign up with Sesh today .

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Why Communication is Important for Mental Health - Sesh

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Communication is critical in many elements of mental health management. Our mental well-being includes the emotional, psychological, and social components of our lives. Unfortunately, communication for mental health can be complex, challenging, stressful, and uncomfortable. Because of social stigma and criticism, most of us overlook our mental health concerns, forcing us to stay silent and adding to our current troubles.

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"Push yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you." - Unknown

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“the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23

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"Balance is not something you find, it's something you create." - Jana Kingsford

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"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees." - Amelia Earhart

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"It is never too late to be who you might have been." - George Eliot

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“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” — Will Durant

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"It is wrong and immoral to seek to escape the consequences of one’s acts." - Mahatma Gandhi

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"The family – that dear octopus from whose
tentacles we never quite escape, nor,
in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to.”
- Dodie Smith

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“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” - Albert Einstein

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SELF-DISCIPLINE

I chose this quote as it describes my outlook on how self-discipline should be developed in one's life. I believe that self-discipline cannot be enforced by anyone but oneself. Though others may have some influence on what an individual puts effort towards, the initiative must come from the individual themselves. The picture simply represents one area where self-discipline can be applied: studying.

CHRISTIANITY

I chose this verse from the Bible as it details some of the values of the Bible that I strive to implement in my daily life. In addition, I chose the quote in the picture to represent how I came to follow Christianity. Though I was raised in a Christian household, I have all confidence that it was my choice to continue in faith.

SELF DEVELOPMENT

I chose the picture to describe my "ideal" idea of the product of self-development: a balance of academics, mental health, and physical health.
In addition, I chose this quote because it overcomes one of the obstacles I find in my quest for self-development.

ACCOUNTABILITY

I chose this quote because I believe that one should take accountability for what they have done. Many people only take accountability for the good things they do, but make excuses or deny their negative actions. These negative actions, especially if they affected someone else, should at the very least be rightfully attributed to the correct person. The picture I chose portrays accountability in action.

RESPECT

I chose this quote by Einstein because I believe respect should be attributed to each person equally regardless of their social or economic status. However, I chose the GIF to demonstrate that respect should also be mutual. If someone isn't showing the same level of respect, one shouldn't treat that person the exact same as one who is showing mutual respect.