By: Sara Carpentier, MSW, RSW
Although I would acknowledge that we have gained some traction towards reducing mental health stigma and talking about mental health, I still believe that we have a ways to go!
Stigma is still very much alive, and most of us are hesitant to open up and disclose challenges around our mental health. We are far more likely to talk about physical health issues. Many of us would not hesitate to talk about a recent battle with the flu or even a diagnosis of diabetes. Yet, if we are struggling with a low mood, anxiety or even just not feeling like ourselves, many of us would be reluctant to share this. There are many factors that contribute to this hesitancy, I am an advocate for opening up this conversation and normalizing our need to support ourselves mentally just as we do physically.
Along with stigma, there are other factors that often get in the way of us prioritizing our mental health. Many of us view our mental health differently, and thus when we are not feeling well, our instinctive response is to push through and ignore. We cannot “see” our symptoms in the same way. They often don’t feel measurable in comparison to symptoms of physical distress. When our bodies are stressed, our response is to rest and recover. If our minds are stressed, we are less likely to do the same. Giving yourself the time and space to support yourself mentally can have many benefits. So why not treat your mind and body equally and consider taking a mental health day off when needed. Whether its calling in sick or scheduling a day off, you are not obligated to share the details with your employer unless you feel safe and supported to do so. Utilizing the weekends or other days off to focus on taking care of yourself mentally can also be extremely beneficial.
We know that stress compounds itself, and therefore if you do not take the time to manage stress it can build and exacerbate things. Some signs that you may need to focus on supporting your mental health are sleep difficulties, mental and physical fatigue, decrease in motivation or energy, lost interest in activities previously enjoyed, reduction in performance, irritability, and withdrawal from others to name a few. Acknowledging these signs and giving yourself the space to recover will support your ability to manage stress moving forward. Taking a day can have a long-term impact and reduce the potential for further consequences.
So, what would a mental health day look like? There isn’t a right or wrong answer here. Ultimately its about supporting yourself in a healthy way. Sometimes it can be hard to even recognize what we might need especially during difficult periods and if we have historically managed stress by persevering and ignoring. A mental health day can be about promoting relaxation and fun, focusing on utilizing your existing coping strategies or learning new ones, and giving time to process some of your experiences and emotions. This can give you an opportunity to gain perspective and space, allowing you to move forward feeling differently.
I am hopeful, that one day it will be a regular and accepted practice for us all to feel safe and confident disclosing our need to support our mental health. I encourage you to think about what a mental health day might look like for you and consider this as a new self care strategy. What’s the risk in giving it a try?