World Mental Health Day 10th October 2021

World Mental Health Day It is important we keep talking about our mental health so that people know they are not alone. I would like to focus on fear and anxiety today – although mental health issues come in many guises. I have had my own journey with severe debilitating anxiety which put my life on hold for many years when I was a teenager and young adult. It is often thought that anxiety is about panic and sweating – which is true for many – However from my own journey I am aware of feelings of confusion, apathy, loss of interest, knots in stomach, aches in my body, feeling loss of control, creating difficulties in relationships with others and self. I felt paralyzed, I couldn’t follow my dream or studies, there wasn’t an area of my life I wasn’t affected, I couldn’t go out, shopping was a terrifying experience, taking a bus journey took 3 times as long as I would have to get off, walk a little and wait for the next bus, I was told by many – its all in your mind, get on with it, stop feeling sorry for yourself – it was less understood and talked about back then. Anxiety is a symptom of unresolved emotions. So many people go through life either unaware of their deep emotional pains, in denial of difficult past experiences, or shoving their feelings as far down as possible. A lot of us simply don't know how to process our emotions and heal, so the result is years and years of compounded emotions, compacted stress, and bodies and minds that are in turmoil. We feel anxious when we feel out of control. What we're really feeling is out of control of our inner lives, our emotional safety and wellness. We feel disempowered and weak and therefore give power to people or experiences that can hurt us. They can because we allow them to. We don't trust ourselves. We don't value our worth. And even though many of us talk like we have faith in a universal system of connectivity and reason, we are afraid we aren't valued enough to be a meaningful participant in that system. This is the core of our anxieties: We fear that we do not matter, that we are not worthy or loveable, that we are not safe, or that we are not valued (seen, validated, or belong). These are all false illusions of the mind created by belief systems that began in times of trauma, pain, and emotional wounds. Fear is one of our greatest teachers. It tells us when something is wrong. It's meant to protect us from danger--from threats that can harm us--but we have to discern true danger from false illusions that are created by the mind. These false illusions are not honest signals; they are born in the attempt to keep us stuck in our pain cycle from our past. In reality, these false illusions keep us from healing. When we can identify and connect to our true selves, our higher consciousness, our souls, we can then live in a world that is free. And that's why self-care works and personal growth is so crucial in our lives. I do the work I do now because of my own experiences that almost broke me, but have ultimately helped me. I studied different ways to help myself and have gone through many different approaches – each one teaching me something. I combine a lot of these in my healings. I see myself as a survivor – having overcome difficulties that could have led me down a very different lifestyle. In honesty – traditional therapies and counselling helped A LITTLE and for a short time – talking helped immensely, but It was the understanding of metaphysics, spiritual connectivity, energy medicine, and love that brought me on a journey that reconnected me to my true self. I didn’t realise I was on a spiritual journey but gradually more and more I seen the benefits and started adding new approaches to my own work – I found new ways to work with people and trusted that I was doing what I needed to do. I believe we are all here to teach each other to heal, grow, and evolve so we can realign with our highest selves. Fear and anxiety and indeed many mental health conditions are isolating and make us feel alone - I feel disconnection is the root of all fear. Fear is the guiding force of emotional detachment. We are scared of negative feelings so we try to shut down, block, and avoid. This puts us in a defensive and weak position, not one of strength and empowerment. When we're fragmented, we aren't strong. Healing requires wholeness. Detachment breeds anxiety, contempt, and disconnection. We can't be connected to the universe, to divine order, and trying to live a conscious life and be disconnected from certain emotions or experiences. That creates such an internal conflict that disempowers healing. Letting go is attempt to escape pain, which I get, but there is no escapism in emotional healing. A healthy, full, and rich life requires presence and connection. Denial is a threat to one's sanity. When we're fragmented, we aren't strong. We are weak. Healing requires wholeness. If there are disconnected emotions or mental beliefs, we cannot be whole. Detachment breeds anxiety, contempt, and disconnection. One of the greatest conflicts of the human condition is accepting that pain and love coexist. Healing is about putting the personal pieces of your heart, mind, and soul back together again, not attempting to remove them. Not only is that energy draining, but it can cause dissociation, splitting, mental stress, and emotional disconnection. To have inner peace, strength and freedom, we have to connect to our authentic feelings. Then we can process and move forward, trusting ourselves that we will be able to handle any situation that comes our way. To deny our true feelings, even the nasty gnarly ones, is to deny a full life of experiences and growth. Without the full range of emotions, we may miss the opportunity to feel empathy, express humility, understand healthy shame, or experience forgiveness. I believe a person trying to break through fear and anxiety has probably already tried many things with little to no lasting results. They may feel a bit of desperation, which is okay, because anxiety and fear can be so overwhelming and life-stunting that anyone afflicted just wants relief. I have freed myself from years of anxiety and fear, and I believe you, too, can find this freedom Finding the right therapist for you is crucial of course – and I want you to know if you are suffering with any mental health issue – There is nothing wrong with you – it is true that some people have chemical imbalances that contribute to anxiety, but the majority of people who suffer are experiencing anxiety due to stress, early trauma, belief systems based in shame or abuse, or other emotional imbalances. The good news is that there is healing. With a little work, commitment to self, honesty, and willingness, I believe most anyone can break through the difficult symptoms of anxiety and heal the core issues that are present. So don't give up. I know for myself, and many others who have suffered tremendously, life can be enjoyed again. You can become whole again. Courage and self-love can open a way to freedom. My hope is that you stay on the path to healing. Anxiety is a symptom of unresolved emotions -- fear that we do not matter, that we are not worthy or loveable, that we are not safe, or that we are not valued. .