👻Don’t Ghost Your Mental Health 👻

Staying Consistent for a Healthier Mind

Mental health often takes a back seat, but it is very important to maintain consistency in caring for it. Neglecting your mental health, whether by skipping self-care practices, delaying therapy, skipping meals, or avoiding important conversations about your emotions, and more can lead to a buildup of stress, anxiety, or depression. Just like ghosting a friend can damage relationships, ghosting your mental health can have long-term consequences.

• The Importance of Consistency in Mental Health 

Consistency is a powerful tool in mental health care. Studies have shown that regular mental health practices like mindfulness, therapy, or physical exercise can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. By incorporating small but consistent habits into your daily life, you create a stable environment where your mental health can thrive.

The brain is wired to benefit from repetition. For example, practicing mindfulness meditation regularly strengthens the brain’s ability to focus and stay calm under pressure. When these practices are neglected, the brain can lose some of these adaptive changes, making stress and anxiety harder to manage. All in all, ghosting your mental health by not consistently engaging in healthy practices may diminish your resilience.

• Why People “Ghost” Their Mental Health

There are several reasons why people might abandon their mental health routines. Life can get busy, making it easy to overlook self-care when other obligations take priority. Sometimes, emotional challenges can make it difficult to engage in the very activities that might help. When people feel overwhelmed, they often disconnect from the resources that could help alleviate their stress.

Additionally, the stigma surrounding mental health can cause people to shy away from seeking help. They may feel like their struggles aren’t significant enough to warrant attention, or they may fear judgment from others. Whatever the reason, stepping away from mental health care can create a negative feedback loop, where neglect exacerbates the very problems someone is trying to avoid.

Strategies to Stay Consistent

• Create a Routine

• Find an Accountability Partner

• Reframe Setbacks

• Seeking Professional Help

• Having a Positive Community 

Consistency can restore balance and improve your emotional well-being

If you find yourself repeatedly “ghosting” your mental health, it might be time to seek professional help. Therapists can help you identify patterns of avoidance and offer personalized strategies to maintain your mental well-being. They also provide a non-judgmental space to explore the underlying issues that may be causing you to neglect your mental health.

In many cases, therapy is more effective when attended regularly over an extended period . If scheduling or financial barriers are causing you to ghost your mental health, look into teletherapy or low-cost options in your area. Many therapists offer sliding-scale fees or group therapy sessions that make mental health care more affordable and flexible.

Just like you wouldn’t ghost a close friend, don’t ghost yourself. Our mental health deserves your consistent attention and care.

References:

2, O., & YouTube, F. M. on. (n.d.). Practicing meditation for Mental Health and Wellbeing. HealthyPlace. https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/livingablissfullife/2023/10/practicing-meditation-for-mental-health-and-wellbeing

Meditation and sleep made simple. Headspace. (n.d.). https://www.headspace.com/

Person. (2020, October 23). Benefits of therapy for yourself, family, and relationships. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-therapy