Silence to Healing: The Transformative Power of Talking for Mental Health

Imagine…you’re at a party, and you break your leg while attempting to show off your best dance moves. What would you do? Chances are, you’d go to the doctor and seek treatment for your physical injury. But what about your mental health?

When it comes to our emotional well-being, many of us suffer in silence, afraid to speak up and seek help. However, just as we would seek treatment for a physical injury, talking about mental health can help us to heal and improve our overall well-being.

More than two in five adults (42%) aged 18 to 34 report “always” feeling “left out,” compared to just 16% of people aged 55 or older who say the same. Men and women have roughly the same likelihood of loneliness. 57% of men and 59% of women reported being lonely. This gives rise to depression and stress.

There is no repair shop to fix your feeling and emotions but you have a tool which can help that Is talking. People find talking so useful that they wish they would have done this before.

According to the above stats we see that people refrain due to the feeling of being judgedthis lowers the motivation to speak.

There are a few forms of feeling that we want to share

• Venting to a trusted friend. Sometimes you just need to let out how you are feeling with no real plan for a solution. “I had the worst day at work!” can be the start of a conversation that helps you process the stress of a hard day.
• Discussing a conflict with a partner. Fights happen in relationships. But keeping your feelings to yourself can cause issues between you and your partner. While working toward constructive solutions to your relationship problems is always a good thing, being able to be open about your feelings with your partner can make your communication healthier.

• Talking therapy with a therapist. There are a reason people will pay money to talk through problems with a therapist. Whether you need to discuss a mental illness you’re struggling with, are in couples counselling to work on your relationship or just need someone to talk to who knows how to handle stress, a good therapist can help you with your emotions.
• Being open about your struggles. In 2015 Sammy Nickels, a writer, started the social media hashtag. Talking About It to encourage people to be open about their struggles with mental illness. The act of sharing what daily life is like can help you and others with the same struggles realize that you are not alone and that what feels overwhelming is normal.

Why one should start talking about their feelings

1. Mental Health Disorders are Growing – The prevalence of some mental health disorders has risen in the past few decades. One study found that the occurrences of Major Depressive Episode in the youth have increased from 11.93% to 12.63% in one year. As more people are affected by these issues, it just proves that you are no longer alone in your struggles and talking about mental health should be more acceptable.
2. Promote Treatment & Decrease Rate of Suicides – Of the many reasons why we need to talk about mental health, this is arguably the most important. Because mental health is so taboo, too many people are not getting the treatment they need. In turn, their poor mental health could lead to suicide. One research study found that over 90% of people who commit suicide had symptoms of a mental health disorder.
3. Gain Perspective– Sometimes, when we are going through a difficult time, it can be challenging to see the situation clearly. We may become overwhelmed and lose perspective on the situation, leading to negative thoughts and feelings. Talking to a therapist or a trusted friend can help to gain perspective on the situation.
4. When we talk to others, they can provide a fresh perspective on the situation, helping us to see things from a different angle. This can help us to reframe the situation, leading to a more positive outlook and improved mental health.

There are a few things to keep in mind before speaking about your feelings

1. Choose a right person to talk– having a good friend will support you without seeing their benefit. Choose a person who has faced similar problem before so that they may guide you in a right way.
2. Find a right time to talk-everyone has their own life so one should choose a right time to talk. Sometimes crises may happen if you choose a wrong time to discuss your feelings.
3. Make a balance of emotions– expressing only bad emotions or feeling may not work,one should make a balance between expressing good feelings and bad feelings.
4. Find a therapist to express your feelings– they are experts and experienced in the field and understand all the feelings and as the third party they may give a good advice.

There are other ways to deal with the problem that include

1. Meditation– being mindful is one way to focus your thoughts and consider the big picture. Is your stressful situation worth getting stressed about? Will it matter in the long run?
2. Sports-It will give you plenty of chances to get rid of pent-up energy.
3. Writing about your feelings– this can be a useful way to explore your feelings. Some people keep diaries or journals, others just write down whatever comes into their head. You may want to write a story about whatever is bothering you.