Talking about your mental health can be an extremely difficult thing to do – here are some expert tips on how to open the conversation with family and friends this Christmas.
– in fact, some people experience worsened symptoms because of the pressure to be happy at this time of year. But it can be hard to communicate this to friends and family who don’t quite understand.“Talking about your mental health is hard,” explains Jo Love, a mental health advocate and author of
, anxiety and other mental health issues aren’t always easily described, especially to people who don’t have personal experience with it.”for the first time, just want them to understand a bit more about where you’re coming from, or simply want to explain why you’re seeing a therapist or professional, here are some tips to make the conversation easier.
“Having a few bullet points can often be more helpful than memorising a long speech. It’s normal for everyone to feel sad or anxious from time to time, so you want to make sure it’s very clear to your parents or friends what you’re going through.”She continues: “Being specific, clear and direct will help get your point across. For example, it will help to talk to them as much as you can about exactly how your symptoms have been impacting your life.
Some people may, for example, take it quite personally if you say you’re feeling anxious or depressed, because they may believe it is something they’ve done or been unable to provide that has caused the issue. At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that no matter what response you receive, your feelings and experiences are completely valid – and if people can’t understand that, that doesn’t make them any less so.If the idea of talking about your mental health currently fills you with dread, writing a letter or journal entry can be a great way to start.
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