How Talking To Others Can Improve Your Mental Health

It can be hard to reach out and talk to others when you are struggling with your mental health, this could be due to many factors such as shame, fear or denial. It is normal to feel resistant against opening up, but it can be massively beneficial in the healing process. You may feel as though what you are going through isn’t important enough or doesn’t warrant speaking up about but, if it is impacting your mental health or well-being, that makes it important.

Talking to someone can help you to rationalise your thoughts, hearing them spoken rather than just in your head can make you understand your feelings deeper as well as acknowledge the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. This in turn will help the person to understand what you are thinking, how you are feeling as well as why you may be behaving differently, meaning they will be better able to support you.

It can also be helpful if someone can emphasise with what you are going through, if someone has been in a similar situation and dealt with poor mental health themselves, they will have an understanding that others won’t and they will be able to give you advice on how they came through it, as well as reassurance that it will get better. Joining support groups (online or in person) is a great way to find people similar to yourself, hear their stories and share yours to get guidance and support from people that understand.

It takes courage to speak up and it can take a while for your walls to come down, we naturally build them to protect ourselves but when we find someone we feel comfortable with and that we trust we can slowly lower them and open up, and begin lifting the weight off our shoulders.

If you are needed someone to talk to, here are some free resources available:

Legacy Pets bereavement helpline: 0161 523 9393

(Available on Mondays.)

Legacy Pets bereavement support group: On Facebook

SHOUT text service: 85258

(Available 24/7, text “shout” to the number to open a confidential text conversation.)

Greater Manchester Mental Health crisis helpline: 0800 953 0285

(Available 24/7.)

If you are needing regular, structured support, speak with your GP to establish your needs and they can refer you to the most suitable services.

“Communicate, even when it’s uncomfortable or uneasy, one of the best ways to heal, is to simply get everything out.”