Life can be difficult. We all experience loss, grief, and go through periods of stress, anxiety, and depression that can sometimes lead us in a downward spiral. What do you do when you can’t get yourself out of bed, when you can’t breathe due to panic attacks, or when you feel numb and helpless due to the loss of a loved one?
The struggles of perfectionism, poor self-image, negative thoughts and mental struggles affect all of us. When we look around we see a “mental wellness epidemic” in our society including; bullying, suicides, PTSD, self-harm, and immobilizing anxiety and depression. It doesn’t have to be this way!
Amanda Kjar Wilkinson knows the struggles of mental strain, experiencing postpartum depression and the loss of a child helped her recognize mental distress as part of the human condition. As a “Mental Wellness Advocate” Amanda explains the power of 1)being open and vulnerable in our struggles, 2)creating dialogue around mental wellness issues, and 3)building a community of support.
Amanda will educate us on tools and lifestyle changes that can improve our mental wellness. We cannot change our mental health overnight, but we can practice tools to gain resilience. Through learning mindfulness, movement, better gut health, and working on mindset management, we can connect more fully to ourselves and others. We can live in a place of hope and resilience. We can work together to overcome the “stigma” of mental struggles that lead to shame and feeling “not enough.”
Amanda shares how to “value ourselves and care for our mind, spirit, and body. We must turn the tide to openly speak about the journey of mental health and how to work through suffering.” Amanda believes what we put in our body and mind affects our mental well-being.
According to Amanda, “we can change the trajectory of our future and what our children struggle with. Be who you were meant to be based on less than ideal circumstances. Become the best version of yourself. Live the life of your dreams.” Will you join the cause to promote Mental Wellness?