Why We Ignore Our Mental Health Until It's Too Much

Let's be honest, many of us neglect our mental health until we're forced to confront it. We push through stress, ignore fatigue, and say "I'm fine," until the day we're not. So, why do we do this? Why do we wait until we’re completely burned before taking mental health seriously?

Reasons We Ignore Mental Health Until It Gets Worse

1. "It's not that bad."

We say to ourselves that our feelings are not important enough to address. We think, Other people have it worse. But just because others struggle more doesn't mean your feelings don't matter.

2. "I don’t have time to deal with this."

Our lives are full of work, school, and university, as well as daily chores. Mental health seems to be something to attend to "later." Unfortunately, later can be too late.

3. "No one will understand."

We might be afraid to open up for fear of not being taken seriously by others. Bottling it up, however, that never makes them go away.

4. "I've been through worse."

Having had difficult experiences in the past doesn't mean you have to handle everything on your own now. Struggling shouldn’t be your normal.

What Happens When We Ignore It?

Small stress builds up into burnout.

Feeling a little sad can lead to extreme exhaustion.

A little anxiety can become overwhelming.

The longer we avoid it, the more difficult it is to handle.

What Can We Do?

Check-in with yourself every now and then. Honestly ask, "How am I really feeling?, am I really fine ?"

Talk about your feelings. Tell a friend, write in a journal, or simply acknowledge your feelings, don't keep it all inside.

Don't wait for a 'breaking point.' You don't need to let things become too much before you seek help. If you’re struggling, that's enough reason to take action.