PENIEL LEARNING LOGO

AT THE POINT OF

Break

Navigating Mental Health

We often focus on our physical health as the only area that needs attention. We make doctors appointments and talk to health professionals about our options and discuss our symptoms. However, as a society we’ve come to realize the importance of mental health,  its impact on our day to day lives– even its effects on our physical health. Mental health conditions like depression or anxiety can affect our ability to focus, maintain healthy relationships or even our ability to move freely in different environments. It is important to understand how our mental health manifests and how to use that information to find resources and support when we aren’t feeling our best. 

WHEN TO

Seek Support

One symptom doesn’t fit all and that is also the case with mental health. If you’ve been feeling like the following for an extended period of time, consider contacting a mental health professional or reaching out to a support team at your local clinic. 

 

  • Loss of Appetite
  • Trouble focusing on tasks
  • Missing important deadlines
  • Disinterest in activities previously enjoyed
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Feeling strained among company (talking, hanging out, fulfilling social obligations)
  • Difficulty breathing 
  • Difficult starting/maintaining conversations 
  • Constant confusion 
  • Thoughts of suicide or death

SUPPORT AND CARE

There is no shortage of resources and plans to develop the skills and language to begin reclaiming your mental health. Here are just a few.

THERAPY

Therapy can be a little scary. When you’re unsure of what it includes and how it works, wandering into the unknown can seem like more of a task than it should. However, therapy is a wonderful tool to help combat mental health conditions and luckily, there are multiple types of therapy. Like our symptoms, finding a therapist. If you feel that looking for a therapist is too much, or researching the types of therapy offered is something you can’t do, reach out to your support system to help search and find information to help you on your journey.

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

The things that we speak over ourselves have tremendous power. We see constantly when looking at ourselves and the voices that helped shape our identities. Positive affirmations are phrases or words that build us up in areas that need a lot of love and care. Phrases such as, “I can do anything I put my mind to,” or “I am wonderful and worthy of love,” empower us to think beyond what we see and believe, instead, what we know to be true. Some forms of therapy use positive affirmations as a tool to empower clients and reclaim back power.

FIND YOUR COMMUNITY

Navigating mental health can be tough, but with the right tools and support, the road to recovery is visible.

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

THERAPY FOR BLACK GIRLS

MELANIN AND MENTAL HEALTH