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….but what if I told you that your mental health and well-being was part of a much bigger picture?  Yes, things like genetic predisposition play a role but there is so much more to it than this – and there is a very large possibility that it can be resolved through the holistic process.

September is Suicide Prevention month, and as someone who has lost a friend in this way, it is even more top of mind for me.  According to data published by the WHO, 800 000 people die from suicide annually – that’s 1 every 40 seconds.  That figure is higher than the annual mortality rate from HIV/AIDS at the moment.  Let that sink in.  It is an astonishing figure.  It doesn’t seem quite as high when compared to other figures such as the mortality rate from Cancer or Cardiovascular disease, but it is something that could have been avoided.  Yes, there are various arguments about suicide and the path of that soul, many of which I am in agreement with, however, my thoughts are with those who are left behind.  The 800 000 odd mothers and fathers, husbands, wives, children and so on.

So, what is happening with Mental Health globally?  This is a pandemic that sanitiser and masks can’t prevent or slow down – so what are we to do?  264 million people are affected by depression globally.  In 2018, 18.1 million new cases of cancer were recorded.  Granted, cancer has a higher mortality rate, but is depression the silent, slow killer?  Living with depression and mental health issues can be debilitating.  Yes, there are many who are on medication and function normally most of the time, but there are many who suffer endlessly.  Suffering with severe depression and anxiety is like living in a small room with the walls and the roof closing in on you, all the time.  It does not relent and this is something many people don’t understand.  Even with the increased awareness around mental illness, there are still many people who do not seek treatment.  There are many cultures who don’t believe that this is an illness, some believe it to be psychosomatic, and of course, there is a stigma attached to mental health treatment.  People are too embarrassed to say that they are suffering, for the fear of being judged or to be seen as weak.  How scary is that?  We have created a society where we shame people into suffering every day. 

I read something by Dr Henry Cloud on Instagram this morning – “What a sad situation when the injured party apologizes to the hurtful party simply to stay connected.”  Because mental health is at the top of my mind as I am writing this article, my first thought was in that direction.  We often think and feel that people with depression and other mental illnesses are seeking attention and that they are able to fix their problems on their own.  Well, yes, they are, but it’s not always that easy. (We will get to the fixing part shortly).  Their feeling of overwhelm is immense, and when we fight with or judge them, they will often come back, apologising because they crave the connection.  Depressed people easily and often isolate themselves, but this does not mean that they want to be alone – they need connection.  They need to be checked on.  My philosophy, being that mental illness is a symptom of emotional and energetic blockages, agrees with the fact that people who suffer with depression and other similar conditions can heal themselves, but the fact of the matter is that they don’t necessarily know how.  When you are in the deep, dark abyss that is depression, it’s very unlikely that you are able to think about anything that will enable you to help yourself to feel better.  Even those with an internal locus of control will end up feeling hopeless and helpless.

I have worked with, and witnessed a fair share of cases where friends, acquaintances, family and clients were suffering with anxiety, depression and other related symptoms.  The root cause of these could all be traced back and pin pointed.  Whether it was childhood trauma, shock, rejection, abuse and/or lifestyle, to mention only a few, we could go back and find exactly what the underlying cause was.  You see, when you experience a traumatic event, not only does it affect the energy flow throughout your body, but it causes us to start looking at life in a different manner.  Something like being rejected may cause the limiting belief and perception that you are not good enough for people to stay in your life, which in turn will lead you to become guarded and possibly even angry.  This behaviour is to protect you from getting too close to anyone, because they will end up rejecting and hurting you again.  It could even cause weight gain – a sub-conscious way for you to protect yourself from getting too close to others.  The emotions you feel caused by that event are stuffed down and hidden far away, but they still affect your beliefs, your behaviour and your attitude.

The wonderful thing about all of this, is that it can be worked on and resolved.  The road might not be all that easy, but if you get to the point where you are willing to do the work, we can work together to find the root cause and to unblock those emotions and restore the energy flow to what it needs to be.  The blocked energy can cause all sorts of physical symptoms, on top of the mental ones.  Things such as headaches, stomach problems, ulcers, eczema and countless others which can all be cleared through the process mentioned above.  The main aim of this article is not really to punt what I do.  Even though I know it works and I have seen the success, my reason for this is to increase awareness around mental illness and to let those who suffer from it, and their loved ones, know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.  There is no need for you to suffer or to go through this alone.  You are loved and cared for, regardless of how you feel in the moment, and if you can muster up just enough strength and will power to get yourself to any professional, whether it be holistic or not, you will realise that you are able to beat this horrible disease and regain your quality of life.  If you believe in, and have access to a form of holistic therapy where they are able to assist you with the symptoms you are experiencing, I would like to urge you to investigate it.  You will more than likely end up resolving the root cause of the problem, eliminating the symptoms completely, instead of only focussing on treating the symptoms.

If you have any questions on what I have written here, or about what we do, please get in touch with us.  We would be more than happy to chat with you and to help where possible.  If you, or someone you love is suffering, or thinking about harming themselves, please seek help.  There are many who are willing to connect with you and who want to help.