Mental health struggles can come from a variety of places.
There are milestones and events that come and go for you and your family all the time. Some of these cause stress and upheaval and some are outwardly positive. But many of them also can act as triggers, sometimes unexpected ones, for your mental health struggles. And it’s good to be aware of this.
We all know more than ever about the importance of mental health, and talking about these issues is something that’ll always be important. If you want to make sure you look after yourself optimally and recognize potential triggers, you’re in the right place.
You can learn about several triggers of mental health struggles below.
Milestones in the Aging Process
Getting older and contending with all of the things that come along with the aging process is one of the most important things of all when it comes to your general health and wellbeing. You want to make sure that you accept your feelings and don’t judge yourself for feeling a particular way. You need to also try to accept that the aging process happens to all of this and there’s nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about. As those milestones come and go, try to celebrate rather than fret over them.
The Holiday Season
The holiday season can be difficult for a lot of people, and there should never be any pressure to feel a certain way. Sometimes, the pressure to feel happy and positive can be the thing that many people find most difficult to deal with. Reaching out to be people and enjoying the aspects of the season that you enjoy and shutting out the things you don’t can help you to stay on track. And with the holidays, you know when they’re coming, so if you know you’ll find them tricky, it’s a good idea to prepare for them.
Bereavement
Of course, losing someone close to you is one of the most difficult things you can experience in life. If you do find yourself in this situation and you’re struggling, reaching out is really important. There are lots of ways to do this and grief counseling is increasingly seen as a vital asset for many people. It helps you to work through your feelings better and accept the situation in a way that’s healthy and productive for you. It’ll definitely test your mental health, but there are good and bad ways to deal with these challenging feelings.
The Anniversary of Difficult Life Experiences
There are so many things that challenge us in life and difficult memories that we have to contend with as we move forward. Every now and then you’ll experience something that stays with you and not for good reasons, and each time an anniversary for those kinds of dates, it can bring those negative feelings back up. You should try to prepare for those moments and prepare your emotions. Keeping busy on those negative anniversaries and not letting your mind linger on the negative things can help you to cope better.
Moving House
Moving house is stressful as it represents a huge change in your life. Maybe you have emotions and memories that are strongly associated with that particular home, and leaving it behind is tricky. It might also be that this time of change is causing you to revisit memories that are difficult or memories that you haven’t yet confronted or come to terms with. Moving house is tough, but it can also be seen as a positive and a chance to start a new chapter in your life. So try to focus on those positives instead of the negatives.
Significant Bodily Changes
When your body is going through changes, this can also put some added pressure on your mental health. When you don’t have that certainty and even your body seems to be changing, it can be tough from a mental point of view. Whether it’s menopause, puberty, weight loss, weight gain, or another bodily change, it can be something that’s truly difficult for you to come to terms with. Body dysmorphia is the name often given to these feelings. Consequently, treatment options are available. I can offer support and we can also work with a psychotherapist.
Pregnancy and Postpartum
When you’re going through pregnancy, this certainly counts as a bodily change as we discussed above. But this is a particular kind of change and it’s not a lot like the others. As well as representing a change to your body, it also represents a huge life change. You’ll get the answer to questions such as …. What is nesting. Additionally, you’ll be adapting your home, work-life, and schedules to meet the demands of being the parent of a newborn baby. Additionally, despite what Tom Cruise has to say, postpartum depression is a very real issue for many new mothers.
Starting a New Job
Starting a new job means having to throw yourself into a new environment, spend time around new people each day, and find ways to get the most out of the next stage of your career path. It’s tricky and it’s challenging, and it can be something that causes stress and anxiety in many people. Trying to embrace it and learn, even if you make mistakes along the way, is usually the best way to approach this issue.
And Leaving an Old One
Starting a new job often means leaving an old one behind, and that kind of change that involves moving on from something you loved can be tough. Maybe you’re leaving behind your role as a stay-at-home parent; that’s one of the toughest jobs of all to leave behind. Or maybe you’re retiring; that’s tough because not having that same purpose that your job offered you each day can be tough too.
As you can see, there are so many occasions and events in life that test us and that place a strain on our mental health. It’s up to you to find ways to overcome these challenges, but remember that there’s support and help out there if you’re ever struggling with your mental health, so don’t be afraid to reach out.
26 thoughts on “Mental Health Struggles & Their Triggers”
Mental health awareness is really needed to be shared nowadays. We are suffering from such without even knowing. You really clearly pointed it out and I hope people will really open up and talk about this matter.
The more open that people are about what is really happening the easier that it will be for others to feel that it is safe to share their story.
I can see how these can be triggering for people. Part of the human process we all can relate to at one point or another.
Exactly. There is also alot of strength in knowing what our triggers are.
Each person has their own struggle. And it is our responsibility to become more understanding. Sometimes listening to them is enough to make them feel good.
Lending a listening ear can make a big difference in helping someone to feel supported and understood.
I love this so much! It’s ok not to be ok. We all have mental health, just like how we all have physical health, and they are both so important. We deserve to get help and support when we need it. Thank you so much for sharing different events that may effect us and normalizing mental health struggles <3
Sara, I am happy to do so. If we can fully normalize a need for mental health support we can help so many people. It is ok to not be ok.
I have experienced several of these so these definitely can affect your mental health. My father died one year ago tomorrow so this weekend is going to be tough. Thanks for the encouraging words!
Dominique, I am beyond sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, I deeply know your pain. It is not easy. Reach out if you would like to chat with a kindred spirit.
All of these events and times of the year can be very jarring and shake you up a bit. Thank you for the informative article. It’s important to be aware of the possibility of stress so you can assess it and prevent it if it happens.
Knowing that with stresses us out can help us to avoid the affect that the event or situation has.
I learned a great deal from reading your post today! Thanks for sharing this valuable information.
You are very welcome.
Mental health is a tough pill to swallow. In todays state the rise of mental health problems has sky rocketed. We need to make sure to ask and get the help we need.
The more open and easy it is to gain mental health access the better off we will all be.
I love the fact that you made the worlds in your article about such a heavy subject flow so lightly. I have read a bunch on the subject, which is superimportant and close my heart and I really do like your way with words.
Keep up the great work, and keep spreading love!
Thank you so much for your kindness and lovely words. They are greatly appreciated.
Understanding mental health is so important to getting the help you need or being able to help someone else who’s struggling. Thank you for sharing this.
When we understand we can more easily seek help.
I’m so glad you shared this post. We still need so much more conversation about mental health. It’s still so stigmatized all over the world.
Unfortunately, you are correct, and mental health issues are still highly stigmatized. Let’s keep the conversation going forward.
Losing a loved one is pain like no other! No amount of help can get you right. It can only try to guide you to get you better! It’s a constant struggle….
You are so very right. Just when you think you are coming to the other side of grief you can be pulled right back in. This is why it is so important to keep communication open.
This is helpful information. Society has to be more open to the subject of mental health to remove the stigma. I’ve noticed that leaving an old job and starting a new one make me anxious and leave me feeling a little bit down.
You are feeling down with your shift. The more open we are about our struggles, the more help that we are likely to find.