Celebrate Mental Health Day: October 10
Each year the World Federation of Mental Health determines the theme for this important date. This year it is “mental health is a universal human right”. The explanation for the theme is quite moving. The federation shares, “Previous reports by the UN Human Rights office highlight that people with mental health conditions and those with psychosocial disabilities experience disproportionately higher rates of poor physical health and reduced life expectancy. Stigma is also a significant determinant of quality care and access to the full range of services required. Discrimination, harmful stereotypes, and stigma in the community, family, schools, and the workplace prevent healthy relationships, social interactions, and the inclusive environments needed for the well-being of all members of society.”
So how will you celebrate Mental Health Day this year? This day can be a great reminder to bring awareness, understanding, and support for mental health and well-being. Here are a few ideas on how you can celebrate Mental Health Day this year.
Practice Self-Care
Make self-care a priority on Mental Health Day. Engage in activities that promote relaxation, stress reduction, and overall well-being. This could include taking a walk in nature, practicing mindfulness or meditation, engaging in a hobby you enjoy, or treating yourself to something special. Here are my top 5 recommendations.
Belly Laughing for Mental Health
Belly laughing, also known as genuine or deep laughter, can bring about several benefits for our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. According to Sharp Health News, “Deep belly laughs can help reduce stress by promoting relaxation and releasing endorphins, which are natural mood-boosting chemicals in our body”. Avera Health shares that “belly laughing can improve our emotional well-being by triggering the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which can enhance mood and create a sense of pleasure and happiness.” Sharing a good laugh with others also helps to bond us socially and emotionally with others. Friendship plays a crucial role in promoting and maintaining good mental health. Having meaningful connections with friends can have several positive effects on our well-being.
Even if you’re alone, you can have a great belly laugh. Think of a funny scene from a movie and allow yourself to laugh. Be present and allow yourself to express tears, snorts, whatever comes with your authentic deep laughter!
Kundalini Yoga for Emotional Regulation
As I shared in my recent blog, Unlock Your Full Potential: Discover the Power of Kundalini Yoga, Kundalini Yoga is a powerful and transformative practice that combines physical postures, breathing techniques, meditation, and sound to awaken and activate the Kundalini energy within the body. It can be a powerful tool for emotional healing and providing internal balance. The various components, including physical movements, breathwork, chanting, and meditation, can help individuals process and release emotional blockages, cultivate self-compassion, and promote overall emotional well-being.
The physical movements, or asanas, in Kundalini Yoga, are designed to stimulate the body's energy flow and release tension. This can have a direct impact on emotional well-being, as stored emotions (unprocessed energy/trauma) often manifest as physical tension in the body. By engaging in Kundalini yoga postures and allowing the breath to flow freely, individuals can release emotional energy and create a more balanced state within themselves.
Lastly, Kundalini Yoga can support the development of emotional intelligence by enhancing self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and mindfulness. By incorporating physical movements, breathwork, chanting, and meditation, this practice can help individuals cultivate emotional well-being, leading to a deeper understanding and management of their own emotions as well as the emotions of others. So take a Kundalini Yoga class and experience its benefits.
Sound Baths for Your Nervous System
If you want to be taken care of, you simply need to show up and allow the vibration of the gong to wash over you and restore your nervous system. It is a non-movement experience that is like an internal massage.
As I shared in my blog, “Healing with Music: Understanding Gong Sound Therapy” the gong’s vibrations stimulate the nerve endings on the skin thereby entering the nervous system and your vital organs. Studies have demonstrated that the gong therapy can reduce blood pressure and can elevate mood. It also softens the mind’s control, bringing the mind to a meditative, more relaxed state: quite literally a healing musical meditation. Additional techniques such as hand and finger positions (mudras), eye focus, pranayam (breathwork), and/or affirmations can be added to deepen the benefit of the gong therapy session. Calming music brings your awareness back to the room as you slowly return - refreshed and renewed. You may not be able to reduce the demands in your daily life, but you can strengthen your nervous and glandular systems to be more resilient. Regular gong therapy sessions are a great and easy addition to your self-care or corporate wellness program. So find a local sound event today.
The Power of Gratitude
Expressing gratitude requires that you shift your perspective outward. It can help you move your focus beyond your current circumstance. According to Psychology Today, in addition to shifting your perspective outward and strengthening connections with others, practicing gratitude has also been shown to offer additional emotional and physical benefits that are particularly important in these challenging times, including an increased sense of happiness and reduced depression. Interestingly, Mayo Clinic research shows that “expressing gratitude can enhance positive emotions like happiness, joy, and contentment. It shifts our focus from negative things to positive things, which helps us feel more satisfied and happy with our lives. It can also help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.” It can provide a sense of calmness and relaxation, which makes it easier to cope with stress and challenging situations. So start a gratitude journal. Each day write down 3 things or people that you are grateful for. Increase your self-awareness and don’t repeat your entries.
Reiki
As I shared in my blog, Reiki: A Japanese Modality for Stress Reduction and Healing, According to a medically reviewed article in Everyday Health, research shows that a single Reiki treatment may help your autonomic nervous system, the primitive part of your nervous system that you don’t fully, consciously control (it's responsible for things like heartbeat and breathing), move from a sympathetic-dominant, or “fight-or-flight” state, to a parasympathetic dominant, or “rest-and-digest” state. When you experience stressors, your sympathetic nervous system reacts, releasing hormones like epinephrine, among others, and increasing heart rate and blood pressure (the fight-or-flight response that gets the body ready to deal with potential dangers). But when your body is constantly under stress (or is activated by prior more severe stressful experiences, such as trauma and resultant PTSD), this response can shift into overdrive, which can lead to problems like a greater risk of heart disease. The parasympathetic-dominant state is the state we are meant to live in and Reiki helps to support one’s autonomic nervous system toward that state of safety, rest, recovery, and ease. So a single Reiki session can provide deep relaxation to the client and support good health.
Raise Awareness
Use your voice and platform to raise awareness about mental health and to reduce the stigma often associated with mental illness. Share mental health-related posts on social media and consider sharing your own experiences dealing with mental health issues. Strengthen your relationships by engaging in conversations about mental health with friends, family, or colleagues, or participate in local events or discussions centered around mental health. If you type “mental health day events near me” in your browser, you can find local and online events, many of which are linked to ongoing events and support networks.
Reach Out
Mental Health Day can be a great opportunity to reach out to someone you know who may be struggling with their mental health. Offer a listening ear, show your support, and let them know they are not alone.
Remember that you also are not alone. Many others are having the same experience as you so don't judge yourself. Pivot and connect with your favorite FB group or online group. Be a part of a community that interests and engages you. Be real. It allows others to be the same and makes space for deeper, more meaningful conversations and connections.
Mental Health Day is just one day, but mental health should be a priority every day. Taking care of our mental health and supporting others in their mental health journey is crucial for overall well-being.
Get Started with Kundalini Yoga and Meditation for Mental Health and Focus Transformation
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About SoundWellness
Monique Derfuss is the founder and President of SoundWellness offering gong sound therapy, Reiki, Kundalini Yoga, and meditation. Her wellness business is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and has helped thousands of people over the past 9 years move beyond only taking care of their physical bodies to taking a more holistic approach to their health by integrating support of their energetic, or subtle, bodies. Check out what others have said about her services.
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