November 17, 2023
Podcast Becoming Your Own VIP Mind, Body, and Soul
Streamed 11/16/2022
Mental Health Connection to Mind, Body, and Soul
Choices we make, relationships, and cause and effect
All of the topics I cover on this podcast are from my experiences only but find it may impact us all on some level impacting upper, middle, or lower class, race, or gender, and any age.
Trauma occurred through life events such as:
· Childhood trauma or abuse of any kind
· Jail
· Illness/disease
· Death/grief or loss
· Veteran
· Religion/Cult/Secret societies/Cults
· Toxic Relationships
· Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
· Adult Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse of any kind
· Family history of mental health problems
· World events – war, pandemic, recession, great depression, genocide, community homicides, racism, slavery, and more
· Just watching and listening to movies, news, and social media traumatizes and impacts our mental health just by the info we take in without even knowing it
The insights above have not only impacted us but also the ones we love and our community. Personally, when considering seeking help through therapy meant acknowledging outwardly that something was wrong with me. Privately shaming or punishing myself was one thing, but sharing with another person? I know there will be some people familiar with this but for those who are not familiar…..growing up to disclose family matters was taboo since we were taught that what happens in this house; stays in this house.
Confronting mental illness meant becoming vulnerable and there was a defensiveness at the thought of therapy. The stigma and that no one can help. There was this wounding that since no one ever helped before while it was happening, how can therapy help, talking about it seemed pointless. Plus, then you’ll have to re-live the trauma and uproot what you have been trying to bury.
Notice the excuses, however, you want to rationalize it, normalize it, endure it, with feelings of helplessness, powerlessness, and believing others are powerless to help are lies that in the darkness you cannot hear yourself say.
Confronting is where you gain your power back, saying no to the lies and getting help is what will shine a light and pull you up and out of the prison you created for yourself. Even if you were not the one who originally imprisoned you, it was you that chose to remain there.
Here is what was interesting to me…and maybe some of you have done this or witnessed it. For me, I did share what happened with the people I loved and felt safe with. I shared with the people I prayed would keep the secrets safe, protect me, and hold expectations of them not to hurt me that way again. Placing trust in them to feel safe and let the guards down, and not betray this trust.
This is where mental health comes in and as I mention about duality…when healed you take on your own issues without putting them onto another individual. It’s just not fair to them and quite frankly not their responsibility. They had their own lives and things to heal on their own. Should they be aware yes, and can they support you if something comes up that is triggering yes but having them be the hero and you hold them to those expectations hurts you both and that is in any relationship. You are responsible for yourself.
Therapy is overall a safe space and does lead to inner dialog and discovery,
developing new perspectives and healing. I found we are all wounded in some way therapists, spiritual leaders, physicians, government & state officials, spouses, friends, employers, peers, & family. We are born into sin and are broken, fragmented, and lost in some way your title doesn’t take away that we all have experiences we encounter daily that impact us in many different ways. The challenge is how we treat one another…the bible has many scriptures on this.
We develop our spirit by strengthening our compassion, empathy, love, patience, faith, forgiveness, and more. Through our own pain, we are better to understand and support someone through the lessons we learn.
The professionals have studied and received a degree, and some have truly experienced what they are now providing services for. However, a degree is not needed; we all have been a student of life.... the question is have you learned your lesson, have you evolved, and can you now apply what was learned to help another person in need? You have what it takes to help another. Seeking help and support from your loved ones who truly want to support you or seeking professional help as I said are you taking your power back.
There is a heavy dependency & reliance on others to lead and have the answers. The truth is we are all on different levels of understanding, & maturity. Imagine you are in a fog that is dense; you have limited vision until you get closer, as the fog dissipates the more you see. This is the same process for healing and being receptive to information that can help you in a situation. In the fog is the darkness where a person is in survival mode, not really able to see or be open to solutions. As you get closer the fog dissipates and things are getting clear things are starting to make sense even the past things once attempted, past books read, and memories with a different perspective than from before now make sense. The solutions continue to lead you out of the fog, out of the darkness, out of victim mentality, out of survival, and into thriving.
Understanding yourself leads to understanding others better with a new perspective. You have more accountability for the part you played in the past and are more conscious of your actions with every encounter and choice you have. You are the one that builds up or tears down yourself and the relationships you seek. We are all here to support one another not take on another's burden, it is only you that can save yourself.
How do you accomplish this?
Seek God first, Pray, and have a true desire to change for the better, be accountable and put yourself into action taking the necessary steps to let go of what is not serving you and to add new habits, behaviors, and anything that is loving and kind to yourself and others. Patience is required & to apply yourself to making positive changes daily. Seeking help, research, utilizing discernment, and daily routines of self-care. In the Bible Proverbs and the 10 commandments is a great place to start reading at least three different versions KJV- King James Version, NIV- New International Version, and ESV- English Standard Version so that you can truly digest the scripture and see different perspectives and which version resonated with your soul.
Exercise, go out in nature, meditate in stillness or scripture, journal, EFT, breathwork, have good nutrition & hydration, have a good 8 hr. sleep, and check your vitamin levels for deficiencies.
Benefits of exercise for your mental health:
Aerobic exercises, including jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing, have been proven to reduce anxiety and depression. Exercising creates blood circulation to the parts of your brain controlling reactivity to stress, memory, motivation, emotions, mood, & fear in response to stress. Additional benefits would limit distraction, self-eff-i-cacy, and social interaction.
Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem, confidence, and cognitive function.
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