S is for...Saturday 10th October, World Mental Health Day

#openup #talk #itsoknottobeok #itsgoodtotalk #britaingettalk #mentalhealthmatters

Firstly, it’s all down to the individual.

A blanket attitude towards mental health of “its good to talk”, “open up”, and all that other hashtag shit is just lazy.

Because clearly these initiatives and schemes have been pushed and promoted long enough now that you would see the benefits and results of them. And I’m sure if you looked at a ‘study’ you would see positive trends and results towards things like abuse, murder, and suicide; that they are on the decline. But maybe they aren’t, I don’t know. It has been 2020 after all, it’s not been a great year in a lot of respects. We know that cases apparently went up initially. Which is understandable because everyone was forced together at home and getting in each others shit all the time. Or they were separated from friends and family for lengthy periods of time. Recipes for disaster.

But what I do know is that people aren’t statistics. What I do know is that the ‘bad stuff’ is still happening. And if it’s still happening then the schemes and initiatives actually aren‘t working. Results going in the ’right direction’ is actually called ‘still figuring it out’, not ‘working’. A work in progress is not ‘working’.

I mean technically, yes, even when you know the ‘right method’ you still have to ‘work’ to implement it. But at that point, when a method works, it kind of becomes more like play...because it’s fun. Work...generally speaking...not fun. Play...fun.

So...on World Mental Health Day heres what I think people need to know. There is one type of person when it comes to expression.

An ambivert.

And an ambivert has a balance of the qualities of an extrovert and an introvert. NOTE: This balance doesn’t have to be an EXACT, PERFECT balance. It’s just a ‘balance’.

But, what we typically find when people talk about each other is that a person tends to be more introverted or extroverted. Thus labelling them more of an introvert or an extrovert. But in reality they will only ever remain an ambivert.

Clearly you can be introverted in different ways. The same as you can be extroverted in different ways.

But my point is, you don’t have to talk all the time. In fact, if you believe you have mental health problems the reality is that you... THE INDIVIDUAL... probably needs to allocate, spend, and dedicate more time not NOT TALKING. You need to spend time connecting with your conscience and acknowledging how it/your conscience works and why it works the way it works. Then you can start to reconfigure it. IF YOU WANT TO. And IF YOU WANT TO, find someone to help you guide you through it so you can then learn to do it on your own.

Whatever way you choice, what you need is a believe system, a strategy, tools and resources to better manage your mental health.

THE EXACT SAME WAY that a person does exercise, or changes what they eat, or sleeping habits, or any of that other stuff to better manage their physical health.

The triggers, cues, and acts that people are familiar with when it comes to addressing their mental health come in all shapes and sizes to.

”Have a word with yourself.”

”Think about what you’ve done.”

”Reflect and review.”

”Meditate.”

”Critically analyse.”

”Pray.”

”Focus on the positive.”

There are loads of them. But they all crossover and intertwine with all these different cultures and walks of life.

But if you take anything from Mental Health Day take a better understanding of the concept of an ambivert. Because without that, all we are doing is bullying people into talking that really don’t want to. Sometimes some of you lot just need to shut the fuck up, do you, and give someone some space.

If you really need to impart your knowledge and ‘wisdom’ on someone just don’t be a pushy twat about it.

Apparently there are omniverts too. But that would further suggest that expression is static. Which...well...we know it isn’t.

Something someone supposedly said

“My personality confuses people. I enjoy being alone, a lot, but I‘m very outgoing and social. My environment dictates how I behave. Sometimes I’m loud, sometimes I’m quiet. I read the energy and adjust. There are times when I want to turn up and then there are moments where I want to read a good book, or process thoughts, alone.” - Sylvester McNutt

Songs

Machine Head - Bush