There is no such thing as "mentally healthy"!

How are youuuuuuuuuuu?

When I first moved to the States, this phrase kind of annoyed me, as I often responded with the assumed answer: “Good, you?”. 

It felt ingenuine, often icky to put on a fake smile. 

Today when I go to the grocery store, and the cashier asks me, I let them know, “Meeh”, “not that great” or “So damn excited”. 

Let’s normalize all emotional states, cause it’s May and that means that it’s Mental Health Month! 

This exact month I proudly celebrate FIVE years as a psychotherapist.

And what I can tell you is mental health is still sooooooooooo stigmatized (yes even with the increased awareness we’re seeing).

We dehumanize people with mental illness and struggle to the point that we silence ourselves.

This level of societal shame is completely connected to systems of oppression (read: patriarchy and white supremacy) that support the ideology to be “strong” and “emotionless”.

So hear me when I say there is no such thing as a mental healthy person.

Normalizing our mental struggle is key. Not just in therapy! But at the workplace, family gatherings, and any space for that matter. 

Practice authentically expressing your emotions. 

Growing up in Denmark, I can tell you you’re lucky if you get a “Hi”, and damn lucky if you get a “How are you?”. 

Now I live in the town with most psychotherapists per capita (yes it’s true, that is Boulder, Colorado). The emotional awareness is skyrocketing here (although the diversity is much non-existent - eye-roll). That said, I am grateful for this emotional intelligence.

With the onset of a pandemic and racial justice movement, I think this past year put a lot into perspective. You may have realized the importance of mental health more than ever. 

That you can’t just exist alone in your thoughts. 

The bravest kindest thing is to let yourself cry, scream, emote in front of others. It’s our chance to be unapologetically us. 

Don’t hide the most beautiful parts of yourself. 

If you are struggling emotionally, you are not failing. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you HUMAN. When we outgrow the mindset that our emotions make us less than, we find liberation. We find our true selves.

So let's start Mental Health Month off to a good start. How can we normalize prioritizing our mental health and expressing how we feel? Ask people how they are doing. Be honest when someone asks you. Speak up if you need something and know that it is an act of strength.

Your mental health matters always.

Hug hug

Nora

PS. Let me know how I can help you this month. I'm more than happy to connect to give you the resources you need.