Published May 22, 2025
I never thought of myself as someone who needed to pay attention to my mental health, until recently. Growing up in the generation I was in, people who needed therapy were thought of as being weak or having major issues in their lives. Something was “wrong” with you to need therapy. There was a stigma to it.
Fortunately, that old way of thinking has gone out the window.
Being that May is mental health awareness month, I thought it would be timely to address it now. Clearly, the topic is an important one in today’s world.
AND I’ve come to learn and realize that I do need to focus on my mental health, but it’s not the traditional way that pops into mind.
You don’t have to be going through something substantial or awful to focus on your mental health. Maybe quite some time has passed since the loss of a beloved family member or other traumatic event. Hopefully, life has resumed back to normal. That doesn’t mean your mental health should no longer be of importance. In fact, it’s equally as important so you don’t derail and lose all the progress you made!
I’ve mentioned before that I didn’t see a professional therapist or counselor since my husband’s passing. Although I did try in those early days, it just didn’t work for me. If you found yourself in a similar situation, it’s okay that traditional therapy didn’t align. There are other ways!
During the past few years, I found myself seeking out books, podcasts, and guidance from self-help social media pages. (Refer to my blog about resources for more information.) Some of these listed resources have been life-transforming for me. And I’ve confided in my amazing friends, everything from rambling on about my life to asking their opinions about how to handle certain situations.
To me, I believe these are all self-healing options that aren’t traditional therapy. They worked for me. I really do feel that I am in a good place now.
What I’ve also discovered is the daily prayer that I listen to as I start my morning (subscription from my local church), the walks outside with my dogs, moments of peace and quiet, the exercise that I plan to do each day, enjoying a cup of tea at bedtime, are all pieces of the puzzle to empower my mental health journey.
Even with a loss, divorce, or other type of catastrophic event, at some point we heal and do feel pretty good most of the time. Life is running smoothly again. We function, get things done, and are living out our daily lives.
What’s my point? Well, maybe you don’t see yourself as one who needs help with your mental health. Or you’re not the type to sit across from a therapist conversing about your life. But guess what? You don’t need to have an official diagnosis. And it doesn’t have to be the traditional one-on-one sessions in a therapist’s office.
Mental health awareness is important for EVERYONE, no matter where you are in your journey. I don’t care how tough you think you are. If you don’t feel the need to pay attention to it, let me state a friendly reminder that keeping it all inside can be detrimental. I believe the issues will manifest themselves in other ways, none of which are healthy.
If you’re seeking the care of a professional therapist, good for you in recognizing the need and importance of doing so.
If you’re seeking help out in other ways, such as by listening to podcasts or reading books, I applaud you just as much!
Please recognize that mental health awareness should be a focus for every single one of us, in every phase of our lives. There are so many different ways…find what works for you in building inner peace. There is no right or wrong.
What are some ways you focus on your mental health? Can you share some non-traditional methods which work for you? Comment below, email me at inquiry@sincerelyjulie.com, or find me on Instagram @sincerelyjulie_joyful_living.