How Are You Doing, Really?

There are myriad ways to care for your mental health, and different circumstances call for different approaches. Sometimes, when life feels especially busy or chaotic, it’s hard to find the time to take care. Read more about caring for your mental health in busy times here.

Other times, however, even with enough time in the day we can forget to prioritize our mental health. The world in which we live often encourages us to do just that, pushing us to accomplish, compare, and resist the need for rest.

In honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we at Grove have compiled some ideas to help you be aware of and care for your mental health. Read on to see how Grove collaborators care for their mental health and encourage others to do the same.

If you are enduring a difficult moment, don't forget the healing power of directly feeling your emotions in your body, and sending yourself compassion. When we struggle, we often get stuck in the mind, trying to think our way out of an emotion, but this often leaves us more stressed and less present. Instead, try sensing where the emotion is showing up in your body, breathing into it, and sending yourself some compassion - for example, putting your hand on your heart and reminding yourself that you're safe, you're loved, and you'll get through this. Allowing yourself to directly feel your emotions in your body is key to healing them on a deeper level; self-compassion gives you the opportunity to provide yourself with the care, presence, and support that you need to help you through the difficult moments in life. This combination is a powerful one for enhancing mental and emotional health in all of us. -Anique Pegeron, MA, RYT (she/her)

"I would like to encourage others to remember that sometimes the simplest things can be beneficial to our mental health. Movement, rest, sunshine, friends; all these things can help lift or maintain our well being." -Margaret Levasseur, LMSW, CCTP (she/her)

One thing that comes up in therapy sessions often is the idea that our health (inclusive of mental health) is on a spectrum. We are often fed an illusory message that mental health can somehow be "fixed" or that the goal should be unwavering happiness. All humans experience anxiety, dread, sadness, joy, love, and grief. Difficult emotions or certain thinking patterns will likely always pop up in certain amounts, and it's learning to work with them (rather than get rid of them) that makes all the difference. So, for mental health awareness month, I'd encourage all of us to be more aware of normalizing and accepting a whole range of emotions. -Carryn Lund, LMSW, RYT (she/her)

During this month of Mental Health Awareness, I encourage people to be more aware of how you actually feel. When someone asks how you're doing, notice if your tendency is to answer on auto-pilot. Answering with phrases such as, "good, how are you?",  "fine" and then continuing walking or "never been better" may not always relate to how you feel. These phrases can create more disconnect than actually leaning in and acknowledging how you truly feel. It is okay to be honest with yourself and by answering honestly you are creating space for someone else to do the same. The next time you are asked this question, take a breath and notice how you actually feel.

So, how are you doing? -Dominique Theophilus, RYT (she/her)

One of my favorite mental health learnings from Dr. Dan Siegel is his "Name It to Tame It" technique. This refers to the evidence-based power of naming our emotions during a tough moment as a way to self-soothe and help us regulate our big emotions. Here's a short video explaining the neuroscience behind this concept, if you're curious to learn more! -Sara Marasco, LMSW (she/her)

Personally, I find it very easy to "live in my head" and not pay much attention to the sensations in my body and what they may be telling me about my emotional state.  So I find it helpful just to remember to check in from time to time, drawing my attention briefly to scan my body and also to "go inside" and notice what emotions I'm experiencing. At the same time, I will take 5 deep, belly breaths. The simple act of attending and naming our sensations and emotions, compassionately without judgment, while breathing deeply, can be very helpful in regulating emotions. -Ian Reed Twiss, LLMSW (he/him)

Often, we forget about the mind body connection when we think about mental health wellness.  A journey to positive mental health for me is grounded in good sleep hygiene, eating well balanced meals, plenty of movement, and receiving light energy from the sun both in the morning and in the evening. I realize most of these aspects come from leading a privileged life and I try very hard never to take anything for granted. We can choose any one of these areas to start. There is no wrong place to begin. Let us trust in ourselves and our own inherent goodness. -Emily Preston-Rahim, LMSW, CTTS-M (she/her)

As we venture into the rest of spring and early summer, let’s enjoy it fully by taking the time and energy necessary to care for ourselves and our health, including our mental health. Whether it be taking rest, moving your body, connecting with a loved one, spending time outside, or simply taking time to feel your feelings, we have the power to care for ourselves. Join us in working towards healthy minds and happy hearts this season!