The Mental Health Lessons We Learned This Year

While many of us spent the past year in a panic-driven, fearful place where details didn't make sense and our lives were abruptly different, we have to admit, we also learned a lot.

Let's take five minutes to see things in a new light. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind Reflecting on the Past Year and Looking Forward    To say this past year was a doozy would be putting it lightly. At the top of the pandemic, we were hurtled into a panic-driven, fearful place where details didn't make sense and our lives were abruptly different.   As the months went on, many of us settled into a "new normal," but this came with stress, relationship struggles, grief, and for many of us, the pain of losing loved ones. As our final installation of the Verywell Mind Return to Normalcy content collection, we're thoughtfully reflecting on this past year. Mental Health Lessons Learned   While COVID-19 caused us to zero in on our physical health, these past months have also directed our attention to our mental well-being. Along the way, lessons were learned that we can take with us into the future. This article details some of them in full, but let's briefly review:   Environment plays a huge role on our mental health. Mental health is a continuum that's forever changing. Everyone's prone to mental health issues. Having a tool belt of coping skills is critical to our well-being. Online therapy is an effective way to get help. Building mental strength takes patience, time, and practice.   Coping With 'Lost Time' From pushed weddings to cancelled birthdays to everyday life at a standstill, the "big pause" affected us all. While we cannot regain that lost time, we can turn our focus to a future that's full of possibilities. What's more, we can do so with a sense of renewed appreciation and deep heart-felt joy.       The pandemic taught us that you aren't either 'mentally healthy' or 'mentally ill.' Mental health is a wide spectrum and where we fall on that spectrum varies from day to day—or sometimes hour to hour."  —  AMY MORIN, LCSW. Moving Beyond the Pandemic    We'll all move at our own pace as we emerge from lockdown. For some, diving into the deep end right away will feel right. For others, a tepid toe dip is the way to go. Whatever the case, we must recognize that nobody has done this before and that patience, compassion, and grace for each other and ourselves is vital.   On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Weekend What's Inspiring Us Dr. Caroline Leaf, Ph.D., is a world-renowned neuroscientist, mental health and mind expert, and bestselling author. Her podcast, Cleaning Up The Mental Mess, provides practical skills and science-based advice on how to regain control of our own mental space. Calling curious-minded people. Bookshlf is a free platform that's been dubbed "Medium meets Pinterest. It's a first-of-its-kind space for curating and discovering digital content, including articles, blog posts, videos, podcasts, music, and books, on distinct digital "Shelves" across various categories, including mental health, careers, nature, and history. Ways to Nurture Your Mind and Body This week, take 15 minutes to evaluate where you stand with your mental health, what coping tools you have in your toolbox, and how you can move better through this return to normalcy. Write down the answers to the following questions:   What were some of my biggest hurdles over the last year? In what ways could I have better handled recent stress and anxiety? What coping skills do I have in my toolbox that are effective for me? What are some ways I can sharpen or better utilize those tools? What are my fears or laments as we move toward "normalcy?" What are some ways I can overcome those uncomfortable feelings? Products to Help You Feel Your Best The Tiny Bit Better Deck, created by Alexandra Franzen, is a deck of 52 cards consisting of one gentle suggestion for you to do every day. The goal is to help you feel even just a tiny bit better as you move through your world. We can tend to focus on things that go wrong, which is why actively practicing gratitude is so important. A gratitude journal is an excellent way to strengthen your practice, and we've rounded up 10 amazing options. There's something about writing and receiving a handwritten note. The Good Snail has created unique collections, including encouragement cards or friendship cards that make it easy to send a note to a loved one "just because."   The Latest From The Verywell Mind Podcast   How to 'Get Through This Night' with YouTube Sensation Daniel Howell Daniel Howell is known for the hilarious content he creates. But, his newest book isn't funny. It's called, "You Will Get Through This Night," and it's filled with actionable coping strategies you can use when you find yourself bothered by something at 2 AM. On this episode, he talks about some of those strategies that can help you during those long nights and beyond.   How to Stop Overthinking With Bestselling Author Jon Acuff If you struggle with overthinking, you'll want to listen to this episode, too. I talked with Jon Acuff, a bestselling author who has some advice on how to change the unhelpful soundtracks that play in your head over and over again.   Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Read These Next Mental Health Across the Generations READ NOW How to Navigate Difficult Relationships With Your Family READ NOW 4 Tips for Moving Forward With Compassion for Yourself and Others READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! 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