Society Archives - The Road To Mental Wellness

Authenticity, the way to healing? What do you think?
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When I look back on my life, I think of how often I roamed through the world hiding my true self. For years, I just hid, doing what I didn’t want to do. The thing that held me in place? Fear. But maybe it’s deeper than that, I think when I was younger, I believed that my passions were little more than pipe dreams, not something worth chasing.

For far too long I allowed my thoughts to consume me over how people viewed me. Moreover, I grew up with a whole host of socially scripted narratives; expectations of who I was supposed to be and how I was expected to carry myself.

In my view, this is a flawed way to think. Even so, we continue to lay the groundwork for how we expect the next generation to conduct themselves. For example, there is a lot of pressure to go to college, get a good job and so on. If one just follows this well-worn path, they will find happiness. But is trampling down the same street as everyone else really the answer for everyone?

Follow your own way

Sure, there are undoubtedly many who find fulfillment while subscribing to this traditional and predetermined way forward; but for those who have a deep urging for something different, their way forward seems forced.

Could it be possible that if people were free to go their own way, that mental illness could be alleviated? Could authenticity be the way to healing?

I am of the option that it just might. When we go against the grain of what we really want out of life, whether it be a career choice or a way of being, if denied, it could produce anxiety. What’s more, eventually those of us who don’t fit the standard box, may become depressed.

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If this sounds like you, could releasing your authenticity be the way to healing for you? Could giving yourself permission to be the real you, the one hiding just below the surface be your way to happiness?

Your own road to mental wellness may very well be the road of going your own way. So, you do the real you and do what your heart is aching for, you may just find the fog of mental illness start to lift.

THE ROAD TO MENTAL WELLNESS – THE BOOK

Cover reveal

I am excited to announce that I will be revealing my first book cover in mid January. Called The Road To Mental Wellness, it chronicles my lifelong battles with mental illness. It’s goal? To help others by telling my story…. Check back for updates. However, if you would like to see it sooner, simply subscribe to The Road To Mental Wellness email list and I will be more than happy to send you the exclusive first look at it.

Lemonade Stand III

Order Lemonade Stand Vol. III

Recommended reads

Note: The Road To Mental Wellness is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES PAGE

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Have I figured out the meaning of life? When battling major depression …

We human are funny creatures, sometimes we do something wrong for so long, we believe to be right. But is this always the case?
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I am like many of you; once I saw the injustice that has embedded itself into the mental health care system, I felt compelled to act. Over the course of advocating for myself, the battle was very disheartening. Why does everything have to be about money?

We hear this all the time, don’t we? There’s no money, we had to cut our budget. While on the surface, this seems true but is it really? I mean, looking at anything just on it’s surface only gives you a first glance at an issue, at least, this is how I see it.

So, if we dig deeper, are we really broke as a nation? Or could it be true that the money is being spent hand over fist on other, more frivolous things?

Where does the money go?

How many times have you heard that government has bailed out yet another corporation, gave themselves a raise or “invested” it into something? Lots right? This is a clear reallocation of money and it happens all the time. I find myself asking, what is the human cost of this misspending?

Sure, it’s true that there is only so much money to go around but with that said, the more important question here is, where is it going? How is the debt larger yet the “deep cuts needed” haven’t made a dent?

We do something wrong for so long.

An American battalion chief, a keynote speaker at a fire service conference I was attending said; “Sometimes, as firefighters we do something wrong for so long, that we believe it to be right.” Since that day, his words have always echoed in my head. I think this statement is not only true of the fire service but of many other areas in society.

house money capitalism fortune — Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com – We do something wrong for so long.

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Could this be true of our political systems? Let’s be honest, where the politicians put our money can make one shake their head. For example, some local, provincial and federal governments will cut funding to emergency services. Unthinkable; instead, they spend it on flags, trail development or some other trivial project; a move that is the equivalent to you and I, neglecting our mortgage payment to pay for our recreational desires; this would be silly to most. As far as I’m concerned, government spending is one of these scenarios that the battalion chief spoke of.

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I think we can agree that there’s no denying that money, whether taxpayers or personal, needs to go to the essentials first. While a beautiful walking trail is very nice to have; its irresponsible to cut from essential services to have this added bonus in one’s community. When we think about it, it’s silly to keep up appearances when lives are put at risk and there’s a very real chance that some could die because of this decision.

The mental health picture.

So then, why are we being told there’s no money for mental health care but the coffers seem to be full for the wealthy and their corporations? Well, in my view it’s because we’ve been doing it wrong for so long we think it’s right. However, with a bit of critical thinking, we can easily see that our priority should be on the services that benefit the country as a whole.

Given that mental health issues are on the rise because of Covid-19, we need more funding for mental health resources and professionals to help combat this rise. Now is not the time to spend money on things that may be pretty and nice, but don’t provide any long-lasting solution for society as a whole.

Hear people tell their story on Men Are Nuts Podcast

A good metric to use in my opinion is that of human suffering. For example, are people with mental health conditions getting the help they need? The answer to this question is, some. But with that said, there are so many more going without…… Honestly, our fiscal misdirection in our society is making us sicker and is not the golden goose egg we’ve been led to believe. How many people are dying because of it?

And it’s not just mental health, its healthcare in general, it’s a shortage of doctors, nurses, paramedics, firefighters, forestry firefighters food inspectors, police, psychologists, social workers, plow drivers, just to name a few. This is, of course, made worse by the lack of facilities and the tools to do their jobs. How much of a cost is there to the people? These are not mere, “needs to save more,” issues they are real and legitimate health risks to the population. How many people have died because of this “fiscal responsibility?” Lots. Furthermore, what are the economic cost of putting the population at risk for a new stadium whilst neglecting the hospitals?

The cost of favouring a few over the majority is enormous. Yet it is business as usual? There is money to make the health of our nation the priority, we just need to put it where it belongs; on the people who invest the money in the form of taxes to have what they need. People first!

Checkout the book I helped to write:

Lemonade Stand: Vol. III

Created by Josh Rivedal and Kathleen Myre, Lemonade Stand: Vol. III is a compilation of 20 stories from those who have served in the emergency services and the military. In it, the authors talk about their battles with PTSD, a debilitating and for many, a life-long mental illness. So, if you are from the military or emergency service’s, perhaps this book can help you combat the feelings of isolation and fear that frequently comes with post-traumatic stress disorder. Sometimes, just knowing that there are others out there, just like you, can provide you with the strength and courage to speak up and or get the help you need. The intention of this book is to help with that…. You’re not alone.

Also, Lemonade Stand: Vol III was written to help combat the stigma that often accompanies mental illness, best of all, it attempts to give all you served their countries and communities a voice… Which is amazing!