Mental Health Check-in
BY : SHELBY MILLER
I read the text and immediately knew my answer. Another friend asking to grab dinner or inviting me over, andI just don’t feel like it. I’m so busy and have a million other things I should be doing. Also, I’m tired…gosh I’m always tired. I think I might just make some ramen and go to bed early.
This was me. I thought I was fine, but I was slipping into a really scary place. Canceling plans, eating junk food, sleeping entirely too much, not dealing with the anxiety and depression that was about to take me down. Fast forward through some really scary months, I decided I had to maintain a regular check on my mental health instead of waiting for things to get out of control. Hopefully you get your oil changed routinely and don’t wait for things to blow up and smoke to roll out of your car before you get it checked out. Your mental health deserves the same attention. Read that again, your mental health deserves attention. You have a lot to do? Your mental health is more important. You have a spouse and kids to take care of? Your mental health is still important.
When we don’t regularly check in, we are putting ourselves at risk for a more drastic LOW. Our minds are smart and also sneaky. For some reason when anxiety and depression creep in, we lose some of our ability to be rational and we become very apathetic. We used to love going for a walk, but depression convinces us we don’t like doing anything. We used to love getting together with our girls, but anxiety tells us to stay home. Because of these things, we cannot always trust our mind to tell us when something is wrong. We have to schedule regular check ups! Our body does in fact have some check engine lights, but unfortunately, they don’t flash on our forehead and are pretty easy to dismiss. Without check ins and scheduling mental health care into our lives, we are very likely to overlook it until we are already in an unhealthy place.
I started doing this about 2 years ago and have noticed so much improvement in my self awareness. Not only do I have regular check-ins and know my warning signs, I have told people around me they have full authority to call me out on those signs. If I’m sleeping all the time, my husband is quick to let me know that’s one of my unhealthy coping mechanisms. If I’m canceling plans and being antisocial, my best friends know that’s a sign they need to make plans with me. It has been tough to let people in, and at first I was afraid of feeling like a burden, but it has made me a better wife, daughter, and friend!
I created this monthly check in sheet so that you too can be proactive about your mental health! Go through this list every month, and even add some of your own questions that you know are your personal warning signs! Follow the steps and take the actions you have set up beforehand. My hope is that as you implement this for a few months, you will notice that you are healthier and more aware of the state of your mental health. If you remember nothing else, remember this – your mental health is worth your attention. You are not alone and you are worth it!
