As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, let us address one of the
biggest roadblocks to seeking help for your mental health and becoming a happier,
healthier person - FEAR. Here we will discuss what that may look like and three things
YOU can do about it.
When it comes to seeking help for your mental health, fear can take on a number
of different forms. Perhaps you are afraid of opening up and feeling embarrassed,
misunderstood, or rejected.
Perhaps in your family or social circles there is a stigma surrounding using mental
health services, and you are afraid of what they’ll think, and what that’ll mean for you.
Perhaps vulnerability makes you incredibly uncomfortable, and think it is better to keep
everything locked away.
Or, perhaps, you are afraid of seeking help because it means that you would have to
face the fact that things aren’t completely okay, and that you might need help.
Do any of these sound a little like you? If so, read on, because here are three tips for
how you can move forward through the fear. YOUR mental health matters.
1. Face The Facts
Fear is an emotion. Emotions are very powerful, and are capable of doing much
good or harm. Emotions work beautifully well as a gauge, but quite terribly as a guide
for our decisions. That is why they belong in the steady hand of truth. It is okay to feel
apprehensive, but also know that improving your mental health:
reduces your risk for serious, chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke (Positive Psychology)
increases feelings of calm, happiness, satisfaction, and usefulness (Positive Psychology)
improves problem-solving skills and decision making (Westwind Recovery)
improves relationships with others (Westwind Recovery)
improves stress management and emotional regulation skills (Westwind Recovery)
This is but a short list of how seeking help for your mental health can improve your life.
Don’t let your fear hold you back from these great things.
2. Embrace and Love The Fear
Perhaps this sounds a bit counter-intuitive… Avoiding fear makes it feel all the
more intimidating and powerful, but facing it head on reduces its strength. So, face it
head on while dousing it in compassion for what you’ve been through, gentleness
toward your struggles, and love for the future you want to have ahead of you. The fear
is trying to help you, but it may just be hurting you, and the warmth of love can melt the
coldness of fear. Shifting your perspective can make such a difference!
3. Seek Out QUALITY Help
Quality mental health treatment will provide you with a professional or team who
is kind and has received extensive training for their qualifications. They are not some
random person- they have spent years studying so that they can be there for YOU when
you need it. They are a safe space.
Compass Community Health provides this safe space for our mental health services. Our Psychiatric Mental Health providers are prepared to help adults and children with;
Anxiety and depression symptoms
Relationship and communication strategies
Anger management and coping skills
Medication management
Pregnancy/Postpartum mental health symptoms and medication management
All other mental health disorders or symptoms
Learn 5 tips to improve your mental health here!
Meet our Mental Health providers here!
No man is an island. Make an appointment by calling (740) 352-7102!
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Your health is important. Compass Community Health is here to help.
Reach out today!
-Email: info@compasscommunityhealth.org,
-Message us on Facebook @ Compass Community Health
-Call: 740-355-7102
-Address: 1634 11th St, Portsmouth, OH 45662