Hi there,
Today is World Mental Health Day.
As a psychiatrist, I've seen how deeply the stigma around mental health can hurt people, and I've spent much of my life trying to change the conversation around it.
When someone has heart disease, we don't shame their heart.
So why do we judge people when their brain is struggling?
This is one reason I believe we need to shift the conversation from mental health to brain health.
Everyone wants a healthy brain.
And when you start thinking about your brain as an organ that needs to be cared for, protected, and supported, it changes the questions you ask.
Instead of, “What's wrong with me?”
Start asking, “What does my brain need?”
Then take it one step further.
Throughout your day, before you make a choice, ask:
“Is this good for my brain or bad for it?”
Your food. Your sleep. Your exercise. Your relationships. What you watch. What you repeatedly think about. The habits you practice every day matter.
Start with one better decision today. Then make another tomorrow.
If you need help, ask for it. Your brain deserves professional care in tough times, just like every other vital organ.
You deserve to feel healthy and happy on World Mental Health Day, and every other day.
