Mental Health Through These Times And Beyond
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Hello, simpletons!
Today we’re having a chat with Greg Hire about mental health in these COVID times and beyond. Yes, we know, you might be having a slight allergic reaction to any mention of the virus at this point and it can be easy to just shrug it off if you’re a lucky resident of WA, where things seem to be under control at the moment. But hear us out: there are valuable lessons to be learned as we tackle this unpredictable period of our lives.
Let’s have a look at just a few of the wisdom nuggets we’ve extracted from our chat with a favourite Aussie basketball player!
Allowing yourself to be vulnerable
If 2020 taught us anything, it’s how important it is to allow ourselves to open up and be vulnerable. With the COVID-19 crisis hammering us out of nowhere and no silver lining in sight (although we are a bit more privileged here in WA than in other parts of Australia and the world), we might put on a brave face and bottle up all the nasty, but very normal feelings we might be having at this time.
As vulnerability is a given these days, instead of pretending it’s not there, we’d be better off trying to turn it into a strength. The first step to doing that is to acknowledge its existence. Then we need to take tiny steps towards nurturing a positive mind and keeping healthy, physically and mentally. Whether this means sticking to a routine and just surviving or ramping things up by learning something new and developing new skills, that depends on each individual’s inclinations. No judging.
Implementing self-help techniques
Self-help is a form of mental hygiene. Just like you wash your teeth every day, you need to take care of your mental health so it doesn’t develop pesky “cavities” like anxiety, depression and other problems that might impact you long term.
It’s not been a priority for many of us so far, but it should be one now. And we should encourage the younger generations to explore different self-help tools, from physical exercise to online tools created by professionals.
Oh and one more thing: STAY AWAY from negative conversations and social media activity as much as you can!
Trauma and PTSD are real
“Trauma is suffered by an individual, but recovery is endured by a whole community” - Greg Hire
We may not realise it right now, but we will probably be haunted by these events for a long time. This is a collective trauma that can generate PTSD. What we’re experiencing now is either denial or grief, which can be numbing at first. We will need a strong support network to surpass this. We will need to work together and rise from ashes - the keyword is “together”.
Motivation and resilience go hand in hand
Motivation is an essential element of resilience, but how do we even spark it when the planets are stubbornly refusing to align themselves in our favour? The trick is to find your WHY.
Why are you doing what you’re doing?
There is no right or wrong answer. Money? Fine. Reputation? Great. Becoming the best? Fair game.
Remembering your WHY can boost your confidence and fuel motivation to make things happen, regardless of challenges. This is also what builds resilience.
Thanks For Listening!
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Credits
Host: Conrad “Cone-rad” Francis
Co-Hosts: Greg Hire, “Magic” Matt J Hanham, Travis Hayto & Justin Bourn
Production: Alexandra Cho