Well, here we go into 2022 and it is more important than ever that we investigate our personal mental health. I mean, if we don’t be proactive with regards to the mental/spiritual and “not physical” side of our life, things will quickly get out of hand and we will be lost in a sea of doubt and confusion. Ever try to do something when you first get up in the morning? That fuzzy headed feeling is what it is like when we don’t know who we are or what we are doing and it is a 24/7 quagmire. Who wants to go through life all muddled-headed and only living moment-by-moment, hour-by-hour and day-to-day with no clue where we are headed? If we can get a grip on what and how we think, life is much more fulfilling and enjoyable. But where to start?
First off, you have to clear your head and your thinking. It is critical that one disconnect from all the stress and noise and get rid of all the chaos of everyday life. Even if just for a little bit (5 or 10 minutes), just unwind. Most of us lead busy lives, but if we make the effort, your “alone” time can be done. Although I like silence when I get alone, soothing music can be used to get us to relax. Not that head-banging music we listened to when we were young. Other types of music have their place (like at the gym or out with friends), but not here. Instrumental music is good. Just something that is pleasing and leaves you feeling calm. Or maybe just a quiet place where you can be alone with your thoughts and just meditate. Surely, you can find a little nook or cranny where you can just be alone and think.
Now that you have cleared your mind, you must fill it up with something. If you just stay in this non-thinking stage, you will never make any progress nor make any decisions. Pursuing mental health is not accomplished by reaching a blissful state where you get nothing done. You are preparing your mind to DO some amazing stuff. Ok, maybe it’s not so amazing, but just getting centered and focused on the days’ activities is a real benefit. So, what do you dwell on and remind yourself during this time of reflection? Here are some ideas to spur on your mental health journey:
Blessings
Yea, those simple things in life that make it worth living. They can be big things that affect us every day, like a job or your health. Or they can be little things that we don’t think about much, like your friends or your talents. Whatever it is, you should be thankful for it. And to have that thankful spirit is one of the things that helps us to be mentally stable. Even if there are things in our life that aren’t perfect (and who has it perfect?), you can always find something to be thankful for.
Health – If you are in reasonably good health, that is a huge blessing. As I get older (don’t ask), I am more grateful for each day that I have to live and breathe. And we certainly don’t really think about our health until something goes wrong. Then it is all curses and regrets. Even then, there are blessings to be had and things that we can be thankful for. Don’t overlook those “diamonds in the rough”. A healthy understanding of life really revolves around us being thankful for the health that we have been blessed with.
Talents – When was the last time you considered your skills and talents a blessing? They are. No one else can do those things and be the kind of person you are. Now, the reality is someone (very likely) is better at just about everything that you do. But they are not where you are. You are there for a reason and a purpose and all those other people are somewhere else. No one is afforded the life experiences that you are. No one can do (and mess up) things like you can. You are a unique entity and being thankful for yourself is a key component of understanding life. Now, before you get all full of yourself, realize that you are expected to grow more and more each day. Some days will be bad, and some will be good (with everything in between). That is what is called living. But being grateful for the talents and abilities that you have been given is really only cultivating our mental health.
Family and Friends – Are you thankful for your friends? Some days they may not seem to be a blessing, but they are. They are the ones who put up with your nonsense and tomfoolery. And they are still around. Many time we don’t have a ton of friends, but it doesn’t take but one to make it all worthwhile. If you have friends, being thankful for their friendship is truly a blessing that you should acknowledge. What about your spouse (if you have one)? Aren’t they really a special kind of friend that knows you really, really well? Considering them a blessing will do wonders to your outlook and likely, make your life so much better.
Miscellaneous – There are so many more blessing to be thankful for that I cannot possibly mention them all here. But regardless of who you are, you have blessings. And it is important that you can recognize them (no matter how imperfect they may be).
Thinking about the blessings in your life is a great way to build strong mental health. This does not mean that you will have no problems or need no other help; but striving to realize the positive is a good thing.
Learning
Learning is what you do after you get to a quiet place to think and reflect. Learning is such a “work” oriented term, but it can be as simple as studying some verses of the Bible or reading a daily devotional. It can involve any number of methods and ways to get our minds to acknowledge ancient wisdom from the past. Ancient wisdom is still around because it has shown to be true and helpful throughout the ages. Learning is what you do when you take that ancient wisdom and apply it to your circumstances and to your situation. You certainly won’t get it right the first time or the second. Possibly, you will need to come back to it to reinforce the concept or maybe to expand it. And that will lead to more exploration into this thing we call Life. It is a never-ending process that should never stop. Evolve and grow, but never stop.
God
We are Christians and so we believe very strongly in the necessity of the God of the Bible. We believe a right relationship with God is essential to mental health. We highly encourage you to join a local, biblical church. Being a part of the church is very important to mental health and there are many ways individuals and societies benefit from the Christian faith.
Mental Health Professionals
Everyone has struggles and life impacts people differently. There are many avenues in which you can connect with a mental health professional to get help with the problems you are dealing with. Someone trained in how the stress and trauma of life can impact your mental health is well positioned to help you deal with these issues. Mental health professionals can help you understand your thoughts and feelings, and they can help you make good decisions in the midst of a difficult time. They can also coordinate your care (including medication) and can ensure that you get the help you need!
How Medicare Covers Mental Health Assistance
Medicare covers numerous aspects of mental health and often these benefits are overlooked or unknown.
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps pay for these outpatient mental health services:
- One depression screening per year. The screening must be done in a primary care doctor’s office or primary care clinic that can provide follow-up treatment and referrals.
- Individual and group psychotherapy with doctors or certain other licensed professionals allowed by the state where you get the services.
- Family counseling, if the main purpose is to help with your treatment.
- Testing to find out if you’re getting the services you need and if your current treatment is helping you.
- Psychiatric evaluation.
- Medication management.
- Certain prescription drugs that aren’t usually “self administered” (drugs you would normally take on your own), like some injections.
- Diagnostic tests.
- Partial hospitalization.
- A one-time “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit. This visit includes a review of your possible risk factors for depression.
- A yearly “Wellness” visit. Talk to your doctor or other health care provider about changes in your mental health. They can evaluate your changes year to year.
Other Resources for Mental Help
There are many other resources available for mental help. One of the most important is the National Suicide Prevention Line, which can now be accessed from your phone by dialing 1-800-273-8255 or “988”. https://www.fcc.gov/suicide-prevention-hotline
https://www.mentalhealth.gov/ is another great resource that covers topics such as how to help individuals identify, and successfully deal with, mental health issues.
The National Institute for Mental Health website is a good resource as well. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
Lastly, the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors can be a big help. You can find a counselor here: https://biblicalcounseling.com/find-a-counselor/