The end of May concludes Mental Health Awareness Month. Two posts and a video were created in honor of Mental Health Awareness. There is so much more to write about, and so many resources to share… so my goal is to continue with both!

When dealing with mental health, one of the most important ways to heal is to talk about your feelings. But for some of us, this is way easier said than done!!! But… why? Why do you need to talk about how you feel? Here are the top five reasons why!

* Develops Emotional Intelligence

Your feelings/emotions are important indicators for what’s happening in life. Talking about your feelings puts them out there and validates that what you are experiencing means something to you! Listening to them, and processing them, allows you to put your feelings/emotions into perspective and correct your behavior and take action that most benefits you.

* Takes The Lid Off

Bottling up your feelings does not work. Putting a lid on them is like putting a lid on a boiling pan… it’s going to boil over! And boiled over feelings leads to short term problems such as overreactions, hurt feelings, and explosions. In addition to short term problems, long-term problems such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders can occur. Your feelings don’t just magically go away because you choose to bottle them up, ignore them.

* A Weight is Lifted

Keeping your feelings in, suppressing what’s going on with you, and hiding your concerns weighs you down. Did you know that psychologists at UCLA have proven that talking about feelings is relieving? Relief equates to a weight being lifted!

* Staying In The Present

When you keep feelings suppressed, you get stuck in those feelings. You get stuck in questioning and/or imagining what, why, how, when, where, and for what! Opening up forces you back to the present, and into a more productive mindset that will actually allow you to do something about those feelings.

* You Are Not Alone

It’s easy to feel alone when you think no one else is experiencing what you are experiencing. By opening up, you often find that you are not alone. Opening up invites others to be more honest about their own struggles, allowing you to build stronger, healthier and more supportive relationships.

Talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. Talking about your feelings is part of taking charge of your own well-being and doing what you can to stay healthy! It is important to talk to a trusted friend, family member, trusted adult (coach, relative, church member, teacher, etc.), or qualified therapist. Remember, you do not have to face what you are feeling alone.

 

More Resources To Explore

https://vertavahealth.com/blog/5-reasons-why-talking-about-mental-health-matters/

https://www.feelmo.com/post/10-reasons-why-talking-about-your-feelings-is-important

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