6 Way To Prioritize Yourself On World Mental Health Day And Beyond, According To Therapists

If you ask me, every day should be World Mental Health Day. When I was younger, I couldn’t wait to be an adult. Now that I’m here and have survived 40 years on a planet that has endured a couple of recessions, mass shootings, racial injustices, a buffoon in office for four years, a buffoon turned felon running for office again, and horrendous natural disasters, I can confirm that earth is mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting. Between the bills, cost of living, and the overwhelming stress of capitalism, I’ve considered suing my parents for distress.

We’ve lived through eventful times, not to mention the silent battles we experience in our private lives. One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned is that everyone is going through something; they just carry it differently. With all the competing factors that affect our mental health, self-care should be a priority instead of a luxury.

Self-care has become a buzzword that can be hyper-focused on the luxurious side of life. Want that expensive purse? Buy it in the name of self-care. Need your hair done? Self-care, baby! And while you’re at it, get your nails done, too, because you deserve it! Maintenance and upkeep are important to your well-being, but so are simple pleasures like going for a walk or decluttering your space.

Tis the season for Seasonal Affective Disorder

World Mental Health Day is recognized a few weeks into the Fall, on October 10. It’s the perfect prelude for the seasonal depression baddies who already feel the serotonin slowly seeping out of their bodies. The decrease in sunlight and frigid weather might make you want to crawl under a rock for the next couple of months, and I’m right there with you. According to Laurie Singer MS., LMFT, BCBA, a licensed Psychotherapist, Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and Family/Child therapist, seasonal depression is no laughing matter.

“Seasonal Affective Disorder, better known as SAD, has been said to impact between 5 and 10 percent of Americans and is much more common in adult women,” she says. “There’s a variety of factors that go into why some are impacted, but the key contributor is a loss of serotonin due to less sunlight. Symptoms can range from mild listlessness and irritability to more debilitating symptoms. In many cases, those affected by SAD also have corresponding mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. And as SAD almost always occurs during the winter months, the added stress and expectations of the holidays can exasperate it.”

This year, we’re taking a proactive approach to World Mental Health Day and seasonal depression. It might feel selfish to others, but self-preservation is vital to your survival. You can’t fill your neighbor’s cup if yours is dry. And because I’m no expert on managing mental health, we’ve tapped the experts. Here are 6 ways to prioritize yourself on World Mental Health Day, according to licensed professionals.

Meet the experts:

Sherene Henry,  LMHC, LPC, NCC, CCATP, CCTP, CMIP is a Board Certified Licensed Mental Health Counselor and CEO/Founder/Clinical Director of Love Light Mental Health Counseling Services.

Laurie Singer, MS., LMFT, BCBA is a licensed Psychotherapist, Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and Family/Child therapist who heads the successful and long-established Laurie Singer Behavioral Services, Inc. in Camarillo, CA.

Matt Sosnowsky, LCSW, MSW, MAPP is the founder and director of Philadelphia Talk Therapy.

Attiya Awadallah, LCAT, ATR-BC, LPAT is a licensed psychotherapist and board-certified creative arts therapist, highly specialized in the treatment of depression, anxiety and complex trauma in young adults.

6 Way To Prioritize Yourself On World Mental Health Day And Beyond