Do you feel like you want to improve your mental health but do not know how to? Do you struggle with finding accessible techniques that would ease your mental issues?
What stops people from getting help?
Getting help for your mental issues is one of the hardest steps anyone can choose to take. When it comes to getting professional help, plenty of things get in the way that discourages individuals from receiving the help they need. The main issue that stops people from getting the professional help they need is the stigma surrounding mental illness in our society and the stereotype that “people who see a therapist are crazy”. Another reason that stops people from seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist is how expensive the visits are and the fact that most insurance companies do not cover psychological treatments.
How literature, reading, and writing can help improve your mental health?
In the case of not being able to access professional help due to financial issues or the stigma surrounding it, people should turn to alternatives that they can work on to improve their mental health. According to the South African College of Applied Psychology, “Reading has been shown to put our brains into a state similar to meditation, and it brings the same health benefits of deep relaxation and inner calm. Regular readers sleep better, have lower stress levels, higher self-esteem, and lower rates of depression than non-readers.” Another alternative could be writing, according to an article written by Deborah Siegel-Acevedo, “Expressive writing can result in a reduction in stress, anxiety, and depression; improve our sleep and performance; and bring us greater focus and clarity.” With that being said, reading and writing can have great effects on an individual’s mental health.
Read literature that relates to your mental struggles.
Book recommendations:
- If you are struggling with battling your trauma, read The Body Keeps the Score.
- If you are struggling with burnout, read Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle.
- If you are struggling with being highly sensitive, read The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You.
- If you are struggling with anxiety, read Hope and Help for Your Nerves: End Anxiety Now.
Write down your feelings!
I won’t say that writing is therapy, but for me, the act of writing is therapy. The ability to be productive is good for my mental health. It’s always better for me to be writing than vegetating on some couch.
-Raymond E. Feist.
Questions for further discussion:
-Have you ever used writing or reading to improve your mental health?
-What alternative techniques do you know that work for improving mental issues?
I love the fact that Bouchra suggested some books to read regarding this topic since so many people find therapy in reading. I totally agree with the quote about writing being therapy to some, as well! The video was super interesting as Dr. Zacchia discusses how powerful literature can be by bringing out human nature.
Very well said Boushra! I love the way you tackled an important topic using creativity. I am very interested in writing about mental health stigma, especially in the Middle East, and have seen people around me struggling to cope with their mental health issues due to it. Therefore, offering an alternative such as reading or writing amazed me, and I will also be recommending it to those struggling around me. I will also take by your advice and get into reading the books you recommended to feel at ease.
Great post! I really enjoyed reading it and learned a lot. I would like to participate in the discussion by answering the two questions you asked.
To be honest, I have never been a fan of reading for pleasure, but I love writing. A few years ago, I started keeping a weekly journal to jot down significant events from the week and it helped me get through a stressful period in my life. It started as a way to collect and organize my thoughts and figure out who I was. Even after the difficult times passed, I continued the habit.
As for another way to improve mental health is through music. Whether it’s making music (playing instruments, singing, or producing it on a computer), or listening to it, music serves as a form of escapism to some extent (I feel). In my personal experience, when I’m feeling down, I listen to my favorite feel-good albums and I’m back on my feet in no time.
That’s about all from my end. Once again, your insights were very helpful and thought-provoking. Keep up the great work! I look forward to reading more of your posts in the future :)))))
This is great work Bouchra! I’ve been journalling and painting for a few years now because it really does help me get in touch with my emotions in a healthy way. It’s just something about getting it out of you and onto the paper. I also love reading, but college work has made me put that on the back-burner. That’s why I’m excited for this class – we get to read and analyze stuff that I would never have the opportunity to outside of college.
That was really interesting Bouchra, thank you! I’ve heard about journalistic writing as a way of getting in touch with your emotions but I never recognized the therapeutic benefits of reading. My initial answer to your question would’ve been “no, not really” but after reading your post, I’m more inclined to believe that I enjoy reading for its therapeutic effects, subconsciously resorting to it to improve my mental health. I’ll be taking you up on the book recommendations 🙂
Love this so much Bouchra! I’m tempted to pick up all of the books you recommended–I feel like I could use a bit of expert advice on all those fronts!
As for writing and reading as a form of therapy–yes! As a product of the 21st century (as we all are), I know what it is to feel your attention span shrinking after day in and day out of scrolling mindlessly through various social media apps. But whenever I return to reading, I feel like my brain slows down and also comes alive in a way. I feel a certain serenity in my spirit, and I’m very grateful to both reading and writing for that!
This is good work. I can relate to it personally and agree that the stigma of seeing a mental help professional is a very real issue, especially here in the Middle East, having seen people first hand refuse to get help due to this stigma. But when I listen to their reasoning, I understand their apprehension. The first visit to the therapist is always the scariest since you have no clue what to expect and opening up to a stranger is never easy. But even if you don’t see a therapist, taking some action is always better than doing nothing, even if it’s just something you do yourself. I like the fact that you added specific book recommendations for different problems people might be facing.
Well Done Bouchra!! I was really invested in reading blog and the way you integrated the video’s and books in your blog. I was touched by the way Dr. Zacchia mentions that we can find out and how people overcome tough situations in life and that we can always push forward. In the second video writing down your thoughts allows for the brain to move on from slumps of feeling down . Next time I feel low, I might try writing my thoughts to improve my mental state. The books you recommend were also a great addition and is a great way of helping people improve their mental states.
Enjoyed the read! The video seems really interesting as it about writing your bad thoughts down on paper. Mental health and well-being is a serious matter to be discussed, especially amongst university students. I have had many occurrences of mental health problems throughout my life, when dealing with obesity in the past. Physical exercise and reading books like The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, helped me to grow out of my comfort zone and find my true self.
Enjoyed the read! The video seems really interesting, as it talks about writing your bad thoughts down on paper. Mental health and well-being is a serious matter to be discussed, especially amongst university students. I have had many occurrences of mental health problems throughout my life, when dealing with obesity in the past. Physical exercise and reading books like The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, helped me to grow out of my comfort zone and find my true self.
Beautifully written Bouchra!!
Mental health is such a sensitive yet important topic to discuss. Several people overlook the fact that being healthy is not just about being physically fit, but its also about keeping a healthy and active mind. Like you said, hesitance for seeking professional mental help is so common nowadays and its truly sad that we fail to raise enough awareness about it.
The connection you made between literature and mental struggles is a very interesting one. It has been a while since I have read a book, but if I think about it, I can recall that every time I have read, there is a unique sense of peace and relaxation I have experienced. Almost like I have escaped into a world of imagination and away from reality.
Unfortunately, have never been a huge fan of writing, however, the concepts provided above seem very fascinating and I will definitely try to incorporate more writing in my daily routine as a method to encourage more brain exercise and diminish excessive stress.
Thank you so much for giving us some very interesting facts to think about and understand. I am truly happy that you spoke on this topic as several people around me are struggling from poor mental health so I understand how crucial it is to raise its awareness.
I really enjoyed reading this blog especially since it didn’t only talk about the stigma behind getting help for mental health issues but it also discussed activities that can help people feel better. I definitely are that reading and writing have great potential and are really powerful tools that can bring peace and happiness to people when they are struggling.
As a writer, I am of the same thought that writing can not only heal a person, but it also can make them grow from a seedling to a flower in the middle of spring.
I would say that this is because writing is not a one-and-done thing. Rather, it is the culmination of the intricate thought, the delicate emotions, and the unorthodox experiences of a person being laid out in a way that only them can understand what is written down there.
I absolutely loved reading this post. Mental health really is an important topic, especially in this age. Having people acknowledge it and raise awareness gives me faith and allows me to see the world in a more positive perspective. Being a psychology major, mental health is obviously a big deal to me, and the fact that you chose to use your blog post to suggest helpful ways of coping to people who cannot afford therapy made me really happy. I also enjoyed watching the videos you linked to your blog post as they were really relevant to the topic and provided more information along with relatable experiences.
To answer the questions up for discussion, I have been journaling and writing diary entries ever since I was a kid but there was a point of time in my life where I was really struggling, and the only thing that helped me feel better was pouring my heart out to a piece of paper. Like it was mentioned in the video, our brains don’t really know that we aren’t talking to someone which makes it easier for us to talk about it and work through it. Reading also had a major role in helping me with my mental health as it gave me a distraction from my busy life and allowed me to escape reality.
As for alternative techniques to help improve mental health, I would agree with Ausaaf and say music really does help. Another technique that worked for me was sports, football, to be specific. It was a really healthy way for me to channelize all my negative emotions without hurting myself or others and I would definitely recommend people to give sports a try.
Once again, I really enjoyed reading your post and I’m sure everyone else who read it also found it informative and helpful as I did!
The opening questions really speak to me. Moreover, the time you’ve taken to handpick book recommendations for specific mental issues is a fine detail that shows your commitment to the topic as an author. I also like how you’ve used the science behind reading to further reiterate the importance of using it as a coping mechanism. This takes me to the history of Islam where the first revelation The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) received was “Read! in the Name of your Lord who created” (Dr. Mustafa Khattab translation – The Clear Quran 96:1). Lastly, its wonderful how you’ve touched on this activity that we often don’t give its due importance. Now that I’ve read your post I would like to take reading more seriously.
I love this, Anam. The link between holy revelation and reading adds another layer to the power and potential of reading to help find ourselves in the world.