As of this writing, I’m about halfway through a 16-day trip for work and pleasure. That’s a little more than two weeks living outside of my normal routines.
It’s meant a few days in the office, visiting friends, and next week, a large industry conference in Nashville. (I’m even speaking during one of the conference sessions. It’s a lot for an introvert who normally works from home all the time. LOL)
Thank you for reading the Child Abuse and Mental Health Survivors newsletter. Each week, I share new blog posts and other resources that aim to help survivors of childhood abuse and those who are struggling with mental health issues feel less alone as we discuss the issues surrounding them.
For more information about me and why this newsletter exists, visit the website, Child Abuse Survivor.
I’m reminded of two things as the trip continues.
The importance of connecting with people. At work, that means meeting with my team, interacting with firm management, and meeting peers that I’ve only seen on screens. In my personal life, it’s about reconnecting with people who are important to me, showing up for them when I’m in town, etc. I’ve enjoyed it, even though my introvert soul is tired at the end of each day. 😏
How difficult it can be to focus when you’re out of your normal routines. We don’t often talk about it, but our routines are what make our day a little easier. The things we just do every day without thinking about it. When those routines disappear, everything gets a little harder. Everything takes a bit more mental energy, and we only have so much.
In this newsletter, you’ll see some links about creating connection, moral fatigue, and how mental health is impacted by more than personal issues. Each of these things has one thing in common: how much being alone and dealing with “all of this” depletes our mental energy. I’m watching that balance play out in my life right now: the extra mental energy of being outside of my normal routine is being offset by the increased mental energy created through connection and belonging.
It’s all necessary.
How are you protecting your mental energy, or creating more?
New from the Blogs
Sharing - Early intervention for mental health conditions can prevent escalation
We could make a massive improvement in society's mental health by getting involved earlier, but we somehow continue to do very little and hope it won't get worse.
Related to the above - A family guide to early mental health intervention
Sharing - Good News for Sports Fans—Watching the Game Could Actually Boost Your Mental Health
It makes sense; sports can become a community, and we know how much that can benefit our mental health
Today, young people are more likely to report it. This is a good thing, but it raises the question of whether the increases are real or whether people are simply more likely to report struggling. This report makes it clear that while that explains some of the rising rates, it’s not the complete picture. The complete picture is that young people are struggling more.
So how do we make sure they can get the help they need?
Worth Reading - Do employees feel comfortable talking to HR about mental health?
There's that word, trust, again. Your employees aren't going to talk to you about their mental health; they are not going to use your employee assistance program, and they're not going to ask for the things that might help them be successful at work because they don't trust you.
Shared from Elsewhere
Moral Fatigue in the Age of Advanced Information: Understanding, Surviving, and Responding
This is the plan some people have for us:
Moral fatigue, while less formally defined in clinical literature, is a related phenomenon referring to exhaustion arising from chronic exposure to moral conflict, injustice, and ethical dilemmas. When individuals are continually confronted with situations that violate deeply held values—racism, violence, democracy crises, human rights abuses—without clear solutions or outcomes, they can experience moral distress and numbing.
Mental Health Challenges: Meditate or Medicate?
This is true:
While medication is not for everyone, neither is meditation. The key element is self-awareness and having a trusted guide. The goal is not to prove our strength through unnecessary suffering. The goal is to heal.
We’ve been talking a lot about this - Mental Health Is More Than a Personal Matter
We’ve also talked about ACE scores; the number of adverse childhood experiences someone survives, but now it looks like there may be one that makes a huge difference on its own - Parental loss doubles children’s risk of mental health disorders
This seems familiar:
Making a Difference:
Wilmington teen summit creates space for mental health, support and connection
Austin family honoring teen lost to suicide with music festival benefitting mental health orgs
Wellness club gives Latino men space to focus on mental health
Thanks for reading. If you find this newsletter informative and helpful, please share it with others. That’s the best way to express gratitude for my weekly efforts.