May 22, 2022 - Pastor Message
04/25/2024THE YEAR OF HEALING MENTAL HEALTH
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:12).
In my last installment on mental health, I discussed the importance of seeking the help of a psychological professional for those suffering from mental illness. Just as we seek the help of a doctor when suffering from physical illness, we should not hesitate to seek
help for mental illness. However, just as there is much we can and should do to care for ourselves to promote our physical health, such as exercise and a proper diet, there are also important steps we can take to care for our mental health, what is commonly referred to as
selfcare.
Without straying into an infomercial, Highmark insurance provides a helpful exercise that offers suggestions for mental selfcare called “30 Days of Wellness: Minding Your Mood”, c4a8b4b27e97f8463ce0e7490242087e.pdf (eriercd.org). It is a thirty-day challenge to take
simple steps to care for our mental health. By way of an example, the first five days suggest:
- Day 1 Do a physical activity, such as taking a walk, each day.
- Day 2 Make your home or workspace sunny and bright by opening the blinds or adding bright colors.
- Day 3 Get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to wake up rested and refreshed.
- Day 4 Take a ten-minute break to read, talk with a friend, or listen to uplifting music.
- Day 5 Practice optimism by being positive in thought, word, and action
These are simple suggestions that practically anyone can do but over time can have a profound impact on our mental health by stimulating the positive neurochemicals in our brains. That in turn leads to positive feelings, positive thinking, and positive action toward being healthier and happier people. We should never hesitate to seek professional help when we need it, but we should also never hesitate to help ourselves by taking simple steps to promote mental wellness.
Fr. Marc Stockton
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