Mental Health Month began in May of 1949 to raise awareness of mental health conditions and mental health wellness.
Mental health conditions and disorders are often the result of our thinking. Our thoughts about the past, present and future can affect how we feel. Our thoughts can create extreme emotional and physical pain. Understanding the thought process isn’t an easy task, and ‘positive thinking’ itself isn’t the cure all to a healthy mental state.
One of the most important things is acknowledge our thoughts and feelings, and accept them for what they are; thoughts and feelings. Then, ask yourself why you are having these thoughts which are creating what you are feeling. Examining the thoughts and feelings, and becoming ‘aware’ is half the battle to mental wellness.
Denying oneself of feelings, or ‘pushing away’ these negative thoughts and feelings often makes the problem, or problems worse.
Often a therapist, physician, or mental health professional will ask the typical question of ‘How does that make you feel’ for a reason. The reason is simply to get the patient, or client to express the feeling, in order to get to the thought behind the feeling. Once the ‘feeling’ is described, it may become easier to access the thought behind the feeling.
We have so many thoughts going on, that sharing our thoughts and pin-pointing which thoughts may be responsible for the way we feel is more than challenging, even for a health professional.
This being Mental Health Awareness Month we will be celebrating this long time tradition of creating awareness around this very important topic for the month of May, and will be providing some great insight, help and resources to assist in keeping both your mental, and physical health in check.
Karin Hiebert is a writer for 
"Though Karin and I were connected through a previous web marketing organization in the past, I didn't know her story or journey of sexual abuse until recently.
