From Stigma to Support: Navigating Mental Health in Today's World

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Every day we wrestle with the invisible weights of our mental well-being, often silently. This episode is a candid heart-to-heart about the invisible struggles so many of us face, and the stigmas that make these battles all the harder to share. We confront the pressures that modern technology and workplace environments exert on our mental health, and we stand up to the challenge of creating a culture where support triumphs over judgment. As we peel back the layers of this societal issue, we're reminded through initiatives like Life Line that resources exist—we must amplify them.

Stepping into the realm of personal wellness, we talk frankly about the often-overlooked emotional toll on healthcare workers and the quest for equilibrium in our lives. The conversation pivots to my own experiences, using them as a springboard to discuss the transformative effects of therapy, mindfulness, and physical activity. With a focus on building a robust support network and fostering community resilience, this episode is a testament to the power of holistic health and the strength we can draw from nurturing relationships. Join us as we champion the acknowledgment that it's perfectly fine to not be okay and recognize the shared journey towards lifting the veil on mental health struggles.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey friends, may is Mental Health Awareness Month and so, before we get started, I just wanted to let you guys know if you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or harmful thoughts, there is a free resource it is called the Trevor Project, and you can call, text or chat with licensed professionals for free, and if you text them, the number is 678-678 or you can call them at 1-866-488-7386. I am not a medical professional or a doctor, but this information is very helpful and again, if this episode is impactful or you know someone that can use it, please send it. And as always, guys, I love you and you were created for a divine purpose, for a divine reason. Welcome to the Bite Size Podcast. I'm your host, lorraine Michaels, former EMT and nursing assistant, now business owner and wild entrepreneur. I walked away from over 15 years in medicine to pursue my passion and my God-given talents. Now I get the honor of helping other women discover their passions and purpose. If you're feeling stuck in life, unsure where to go or what to do, welcome. If you're exactly where you wanna be, great, you're welcome here too. If you have faced any kind of hardship or setback, you have found a safe place here. In other words, no matter who you are or what you've been through or what you're going through, this is the space for you. On the Bite Size podcast, we'll discuss life, business and faith. There's something for everyone. So grab a cup of coffee and something to take notes with, because there will definitely be things you won't want to forget.

Speaker 1: 2:13

Welcome back to the Bite Size Podcast. I'm your host, lorraine Michaels, and today I don't know if y'all know this I just learned this. I feel like I forget because there are so many national holidays, but it's like every time it comes around, I'm like, oh yeah, I remember May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. I know we're almost done with May as I'm recording this, it is the 21st of May, but it does not negate it, right? So I wanted to do an episode focused around mental health. If you've listened to this podcast before, I have probably done an episode or two around this topic, because it is so near and dear to my heart, because I have struggled with mental health to my heart, because I have struggled with mental health, I've known many, many, many people who have also struggled with mental health, but also there has been an increasing amount of people who have committed suicide. So I feel like this is something that needs to be talked about mental health.

Speaker 1: 3:27

And why are we still whispering about mental health? It's time to break that silence and to tackle these issues head on. In a world where mental health struggles are, like I said, they're on the rise, why is it that some people are still afraid to talk about it? So what is the struggles? Where's the gap? So today we're going to dive deep into the heart of mental health challenges and I promise you, friend, this is going to be eye-opening. So I want to talk about three main topics here the stigma around mental health, the impact of technology on mental health and then I'm going to go a little bit into workplace mental health challenges, because all of these things have a huge impact on it. So let's first talk about the stigma around mental health.

Speaker 1: 4:35

I still see that there is a fear of judgment. Some people are afraid of raising their hand and saying anything that they are struggling with anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts. They don't want to say anything because they're afraid of being judged. Maybe a leadership position or a position where you have a lot going on and you're in charge of people or things and you have an important role as society would deem it. So therefore, you're afraid to say anything because you don't want to seem weak or you don't want to get, you don't want to face any type of backlash because you opened up about your struggles.

Speaker 1: 5:29

I know a lot of pastors have this problem as well. A lot of pastors struggle with mental health and depression because of that. You got to remember everyone is coming to them for advice, guidance, counsel, and they hear a lot of hard situations and really sad stories and they have to carry that, they burden that. And I'm not giving anyone any profession, an excuse or a way out, because I know some people. You have a choice, you choose your profession. Same with nurses, medics, police, fire. We see a lot of heavy, heavy stuff and we carry it, and a lot of us are empaths and so we carry that emotion of other people as well, and so a lot of times we keep our mouth shut and we don't say anything because we need to be the rock, we need to be the strong one, right, and that gets heavy, that becomes a burden, and so in order to change that narrative, we need to embrace the openness of people being able to open up to one another and to professionals. But the society needs to have this comfortability to be able to come to anyone and professionals to open up about what they're struggling with, so that we can break that fear of judgment, so having that open, healthy conversation where people feel safe in order to share what they're struggling with.

Speaker 1: 7:12

And there's misconceptions as well as misinformation that's going around mental health. Some common myths that I see and hear about is or one of them is it's just in your head or only weak people struggle with this and those comments have such a heavy impact on individuals that from people who don't struggle with mental health anxiety, depression they tend to say that you know, or you'll be fine, and they just brush it off and that and I want to say this, I know they don't mean harm by saying that, but that is probably one of the worst things you can say to someone who is struggling is you'll be fine, it's in your head, you know, like just brushing it off in such a way really disqualifies how they're feeling and it doesn't validate someone and how they're feeling, because feelings are real. Granted, they're fleeting. You can be happy one minute, sad, another angry, another right. Feelings and emotions come and go and feelings are fleeting, but they are real. And then if we don't, if the person, the individual doesn't have a good, healthy outlet or a concept of a healthy way of dealing with these thoughts, feelings and emotions, then what happens is they snowball and those negative thoughts, feelings and emotions gain traction and weight and it becomes bigger. And so we really need to realize the impact of those statements and those misconceptions, because it is not true.

Speaker 1: 9:09

It is not just in your head and it's not only weak people that deal with this or struggle with this. Sometimes there's also cultural or generational barriers. Sometimes there's also cultural or generational barriers. Different generations, different cultures look down upon opening up and talking about your feelings, and some cultures tell you to keep it to yourself and not to let anyone in on your personal life, thoughts and feelings. And so, although that might be in your culture and I'm not trying to discredit anyone's culture or bash anyone's culture by any means, but I want you to hear my heart in this, but I want you to hear my heart in this and that if it is affecting you mentally, that's not okay.

Speaker 1: 10:17

We have come to realize and know, through mental health awareness, what is okay and what is not okay and what is a healthy way to deal with it and cope with it and heal through it, and what is an unhealthy way of doing it. And so talking about it and working this out is a healthy way to deal with it. So the other topic I wanted to go into was the impact of technology on mental health. Mental health and, as we know, technology is booming and it's always ready and always available and it's at our fingertips at all times. Right, it's always within hand's reach and that is helpful. Yet so, so, so harmful, and if we don't have a good grasp on it and a good control over it, it can be so detrimental to our mental health.

Speaker 1: 11:09

In this era and stage and season it's not a season, it's just a huge overtaking of influencers and just people in the limelight and celebrities that have social media or anyone with a large following. Everybody has access to them and everybody has a voice and thumbs. And these people that have this massive amount of following also carry this massive amount of pressure of how they show up, and some people don't care, right, and they just do what they do. And high five to you, friend. Like I could not stand the thought of so many people watching me and everybody having an opinion on what they do, and sometimes I scroll through the comments just to see, because sometimes it's hilarious, and other times I am floored by the amount of hurt and hatred that is being just spewed out, as though there's no repercussions. And someone who really looks to other people for validation or someone who is not secure in themselves or who might not even realize that they carry that I don't want to say insecurity, but they might not even realize that that's an issue, but anyone I'm going to say anyone cannot withhold or hold space for that amount of judgment, criticism and hate.

Speaker 1: 12:56

If you receive that, all these comments, all these hateful messages, that'll affect anyone and you would be silly to say that. What is the saying? The Adolge saying sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. That is a lie and I'm sad that we used to tell children that, because words hurt and they carry such an impact on your life, and so social media has a huge, a huge impact on mental health and how people are constantly comparing and on just different social media platforms, and there's just this anxiety and depression that's running rampant because of it. These young girls are comparing themselves, or this FOMO. You know, they see certain people doing something and their friends are there and they didn't get invited, and so it creates this anxiety and depression.

Speaker 1: 14:08

So social media just being there, social media has a huge impact on your mental health, and there's also, like I briefly touched about it, cyberbullying and harassment that adds to it. There's a way you should have boundaries, just in for everything, and I find it true for myself. I have to have boundaries. I have to cut off social media at a certain time. There's only a certain amount of time I allow myself to just mindlessly scroll and it's so easy to fall into it. But I also see the importance of it and I see how social media can be helpful and how social media can be hurtful. There's a huge importance to being able to recognize that and realize when to take breaks from your screen time and maybe even do a social social media or even a digital detox. But just being aware of your time on it is hugely impactful on your mental health.

Speaker 1: 15:22

The third topic is workplace mental health. We all know about burnout. Now, I've only been in the healthcare industry my whole career, I mean it's been administrative as well as clinical, so I know the whole gamut of burnout, especially during COVID and all of that. That was a huge amount of burnout for people and it's so easy for people to get lost in their work and let their work define them. Sometimes people use their work, their job, their profession as an outlet to get away from other things that are stressing them out or that are heavy, and then they turn to work for a coping mechanism and then they just work themselves to the ground and they get burnt out.

Speaker 1: 16:21

A lot of times people in healthcare, like I had mentioned earlier, we carry that weight of the hard things that we see and experience and are involved in and that also leads to burnout because you're constantly seeing the negative of it all. I mean there's good in it, absolutely there's good in everything right. We just have to have eyes to see that and not focus on the negative. But being able to have that work-life balance and it's so cliche and I hate saying it, but there is some validity to it you have to be able to know and balance all the things in your life. So it's not just work-life balance, it's home-life balance, it's fitness balance. There needs to be some balance in your life in all categories in order for you to maintain this healthy mental capacity right, because we carry so much as humans, as moms, as friends, as wives. You know, we carry the weight of the world and we have to be able to know and have proper outlets so that we can have a balanced life. Are you looking for a simple tool to help you on your growth journey? Are you looking to improve your mental health, fitness or personal development? Well, I have created a journal just for you. Head on over to amazoncom and order now, just for you. Head on over to amazoncom and order now. Just search Lorraine Michaels. That's L-O-R-A-Y-N-E.

Speaker 1: 18:21

Sometimes also with burnout and the whole workplace mental health with it. Remote work could be an issue as well, because you're isolated and we're seeing an increase in that, also because of what COVID did, which glory be to God. It opened up different job opportunities and people being able to work from home, which is fantastic for some people. But you also have to realize what that comes with and that's isolation. And we were not created to be alone. We were created for community and it's so important to have community and to have those friends and those groups and those outlets so that we can commune together. So these three things heavily impact mental health.

Speaker 1: 18:58

But I want to leave you with solutions. I want to leave you with some tips on how to combat this and how to have a better handle on your mental health. So, first and foremost, I am not a doctor, a physician. This is all just from experience and from coaching and my own personal life. But therapy and counseling this has got to be normalized and the more that we talk about it, I think, the better it is. Therapy and counseling has been such a huge impact in my life. It's helped me get through things, it's helped me maintain things, it's helped me learn new tools, new coping mechanisms, new ways to communicate.

Speaker 1: 19:48

And let me tell you, therapy and counseling is not just for when things are bad, it's to help when things are good. It all depends on the amount of time that you're going right. I know when I am in a critical season and a season where I need help. It's every week. Sometimes it's different counselors, sometimes it's multiple, sometimes it's group, it depends. And then you go for maintenance, right, you go to the doctor, for checkups, the dentist, to make sure everything's good. So therapy and counseling, I think, is the same thing and it's just like your car, you get the oil changed, you get checkups right. You have to take care of something in order for it to work to its best ability. So I think we need to normalize therapy and counseling, and you know there's so much benefits to going in the good times and in the bad.

Speaker 1: 20:47

The second thing is mindfulness, meditation, journaling, grounding. I do this constantly throughout my day, not just when things are tough, but throughout the day, to keep me grounded, literally and figuratively, and I talk about this in my coaching all the time. Journaling is so, so, so powerful, because it allows you to get the things that are in your head out, it allows you to clear your thoughts, it helps with creativity, it helps with blocks, it helps with processing things as well, as you know, it helps you gain a different perspective. So, mindfulness, meditation, journaling and I talked about grounding as well, which leads me to physical exercise and physical activity that you know I talk about in my coaching mind, body, spirit. You have to have all three of these in order for you to be balanced, in order for you to be healthy, in order for everything to work cohesively the way God intended it mind, body, spirit.

Speaker 1: 22:00

And so exercise. We know the benefits that it has. I absolutely love it and am healthily addicted to it. I mean 75 hard. I have yet to complete it because I get obsessed about it, and that is something that I have learned for myself. I know and I have a healthy addiction to physical fitness, whereas before I didn't and I used it a unhealthy relationship, so I would go to the gym to escape and so I had to go through that season and learn what was healthy and what was unhealthy about it. But anyways.

Speaker 1: 22:52

So physical exercise and activity and making sure I incorporate movement in my day. When I'm working at home and I'm doing podcasts and interviews and meetings and I'm at the computer, I make sure I stand up, I move my body. I usually I heard this from Brendan Burchard I set my alarm every 50 minutes, five, zero, and at that alarm I get up, I move my body, I walk up and down my stairs. Sometimes it's too hot, but I'll bounce, I'll jump around just to move my body and move my mood. I'll go outside, take the dogs outside and I'll get my feet on the earth so I can ground and just be out in my garden.

Speaker 1: 23:36

So these things I know help me and my soul and they give me joy and it helps me Building a support system. This is imperative. Like I said, we were created for community and so having that support system helps you, because if you can't afford counseling or therapy, but if you have this support system that you can go to and let them know, hey, I'm struggling, I'm sad or things that I used to find that brought me joy no longer bring me joy or I feel nothing. I am so tired of everything, I don't care about anything, and that's a scary place to be, because I have been there also but having that support system that will hear you and affirm you and get you plugged into the right resource. I go to the word. I have my support system, but I go to the word every single day. My head is in the Bible, I'm reading, I'm meditating on God's word and I find those scriptures to help me through those tough times. And my support system also points me to God as well and my relationship with Jesus. And that has been a game changer in every aspect of my life, not just mental health.

Speaker 1: 24:56

And then number five healthy life choices. My life, not just mental health. And then number five healthy life choices. As you know if you've been following me or listen to me. I am sober. I have walked through addiction as well as some other horrific things, but I am going to be coming up on four years sober actually this year and that has been one of the best decisions of my life is getting sober and staying sober and making those healthy lifestyle changes.

Speaker 1: 25:26

The impact of nutrition and sleep and hydration it all affects your mental health. Like I say, mind, body, spirit you have to have all three in order to be who you were created to be. And so I'm working on the nutrition. I'm relatively healthy and I work out and I eat right, but I love me some sweets, and so I'm working on cutting out processed sugar. But I'm also concentrating on sleep and making sure that I have the right supplementation vitamins, minerals. I also take some nighttime minerals to help me with my sleep. I'm going to be getting an aura ring so I can track my sleep and how everything's working and if I'm getting some good sleep, because I don't know, I feel like I don't.

Speaker 1: 26:12

But so making those healthy lifestyle choices and with that I feel like the lifestyle choices is also monitoring your social media, your screen time, who you're hanging out with, the people, your circle. Do these people give you energy or do they drain you? Do they encourage life? And then they encourage you in your business, in your walk, in your home, mothering how you are in your walk in your home, mothering how you are in your relationships. Are they encouraging or are they discouraging? And do they bring you joy or do they bring you down? That is something that you really need to pay attention to and that'll help with, you know, the rest of the life choices that you make.

Speaker 1: 26:57

So, friend, we know that mental health is just as important as physical health and it's time that we start treating it that way.

Speaker 1: 27:09

So, by breaking the stigma and understanding the impact of how all of this works together and addressing all of it, it is just going to help you be able to take the steps in the right direction towards a healthier, happier life. And, friend, remember, it's okay not to be okay, but what's most important is having that person or those people in your life that you can reach out to. And if you're struggling with intrusive thoughts or anxiety and depression and you don't have an outlet and you don't have therapy, reach out to me. I can help you. I can get you the help you need, I can point you in the right direction. If it's coaching, we can figure it out. But, friend, you are not alone and you were divinely created for a divine purpose and there is a reason for you. So if you have found this episode helpful, please share it with someone. Tag me, repost it. I would love to connect with you either way, and I hope you have an amazing day.