Mental health most often refers to the area of life comprised of the inner world of emotions, reactions, and thoughts we think people rarely notice.

Being mentally healthy involves being comfortable with yourself and the world and, when necessary, being able to have necessary conversations about difficult topics, including how you are feeling, with people you are close to.

Let’s look at physical health since mental health often feels mysterious. The processes of recovery often feel parallel. If you break your leg or tear a muscle, it would be pretty obvious your leg was not healthy. Depending on the type of injury, it might take several months or longer to heal; meeting with someone regularly would be part of that recovery. You may need to see specialists or have surgery to heal properly. In the end, you still may have scars. The process of working on your mental health works in much the same way; it is a process of recovery that benefits from consistency and time.

Getting mentally healthy is the process of exploring, working through, and/or releasing unhealthy thoughts, beliefs, and reactions. It can involve wrestling with uncomfortable facts about ourselves and what we’ve been through. There are points where we can do this on our own, but often, people need an outside perspective. I first sought emotional help when I couldn’t stop crying every time I was alone. That was many years ago, and letting a few people know about my pain started me on the healing path I continue to this day.

When you come to the end of how to help yourself, it is often a good time to speak with a mental health professional. Years ago, I couldn’t figure out how to play my new songs without having panic attacks. This is a problem for a traveling musician. So, I went to therapy for the first time at Tessa’s recommendation. It absolutely helped, and I was able to finish my album Hide No Truth.

Working on your mental health is real work. It is often exhausting, and the process can take longer than we want it to. Talking to a trained mental health professional means you are working with someone with specific skills to help you work through emotional problems. The healing path is easier with the right help.

Mental & emotional health is something I’ve been working on personally for many years. It’s been time well spent & changed me for the better.

- Nate Allen