It was while working with clients that I came to a fuller realization on a problem some, perhaps more than some, of my clients were having dealing with, in coming to see an alternative health professional for their life issues.
As I incorporate counselling with my Reiki work, I came to see that some clients were dealing not only with their 'issues' within a session but also theirs and others perceptions of the sessions.
These included their belief that they should be able to solve their own 'problems' and if they couldn't and needed 'help' they somehow felt ...less than...or felt they were being perceived as weak or less than others. These so called 'others' were perceived as 'having their act together' and didn't need this help. Because of this perception some clients did not want to tell anyone they were seeking help for their life challenges . Yet others who didn't have a problem found their family or friends asking if they were 'still' going for help and how long did they need this help for? Reasonable enough questions yet felt or interpreted by my clients to be another way of saying 'Why can't you sort out your own problems yourself ? or You STILL have this issue?
I came to see how courageous my clients are who come to me , open up their heart, mind and soul willingly to better their mental wellness and with that their lives. For they know something that their family and friends along with many members of our community haven't discovered yet that mental health is as important (and I believe even more important) as our physical health.
Today there are not many who would have a problem with someone going to see their doctor for their physical health and well being. Many people go to the gym to keep physically fit with some people employing the services of a personal trainer for their body's well being.
Going to an alternate health professional, counsellor or psychologist is about keeping the most important part of ourselves fit and healthey , and that is our mind.
When our society comes to accepting mental wellness as part of our bodies maintenance program , and in fact the most important part, we will have progressed enormously as a society.
I am constantly amazed that in this so called modern era we see mental issues as a weakness and not as another injury to our body. We often put our mind under great stress, creating worries and anxieties and then call someone who seeks a wellness program to heal these injuries on this overloaded mind....insanity. Well I say that is insanity.....
We are aware now to feed our body well, to give it fresh air and exercise.
Yet the part of our body that works the hardest we feed....unhealthy thoughts and don't give it any new and fresh, healthy thoughts. Let alone good thought exercises.
And when someone seeks out to learn how to feed and exercise their mind , for it to be healthy others see it as a weakness. Yet what a strength it truly is for they are at the forefront of mind/body well ness and well being.
I think it is time to rethink Mental Health and Well Being.
A healthy mind needs to be feed well and exercised well.
If we become unwell we do not hesitate to see a doctor and we would never consider operating on ourselves. Yet isn't that exactly what we are doing if we are in a mentally distressed state believing we should be our own doctor.
The mind that is in dis-ease is not the mind that is able to heal the dis-ease. There are many levels of dis-ease and as in any illness you will not always need to seek a professional. If you have a cold or a slight cut on your finger you may not go to the doctors for you will bandage your own finger and in time get over your cold. However for a broken arm or any serious illness you would usually definitely see a doctor to help mend your arm and seek to resolve your illness.
The illness of the mind through serious forms of distress and dis-ease could and I believe should be viewed similarly,an issue that could be better resolved with the help of a professional.
Just as you would not sew up a deep gash to your body, why leave any dis-ease of the mind unattended?
I think it is time to rethink Mental Health and Well Being. To make it what it should be , truly is...Looking after the Health of your Mind as well as you Body.
