More and more people believe that our awareness about mental health needs to be an everyday occurrence. But what does it mean to be aware?

Definitions of awareness include:

– Concern about and well-informed interest in a particular situation or development.

– Understanding of a situation or subject at the present time.

What’s critical about awareness is being well-informed in present time. Before the pandemic, most felt that the topic of mental health could be placed on the back burner despite statistics already demonstrating people were struggling with their mental health. Previous mental health concerns focused more on reducing stigma. However, thanks to brave public figures being vulnerable about their mental health challenges, stigma continues to be reduced.

While we want to remain vigilant about reducing stigma, what’s clear is that the focus on mental health has shifted to solutions and prevention. It is no longer enough to believe we’ve checked the box regarding our awareness of mental health. We must remain informed; otherwise, you or those around you become more at risk of experiencing a mental health challenge.

Curious to see how your mental health awareness stacks up? I invite you to play along with answering the questions below. This quiz does not intend to cover the entirety of the subject of mental health but instead to shed light on current research and thinking on this vital topic.

1) According to the American Psychological Association, stress is caused by

A) Biochemical changes

B) Physiological changes

C) Behavioral changes

D) All of the above

E) Uncomfortable emotions

2) According to research done by Harvard psychologist Debbie Sorensen, one of the best practices to alleviate burnout is:

A) Breathing techniques

B) Physical rest

C) Stepping away from responsibilities

D) Self-Awareness

E) Exercise

3) Racism, poverty, and violence negatively impact our stress response:

A) When experienced in the present

B) When experienced in the present and past

C) When experienced in the present and past by yourself or your ancestors

D) Never. They have no impact.

4) Learning to manage your emotions moves the needle the most when it comes to reducing your emotional triggers.

A) True

B) False

Now let’s discuss the answers!

1) According to the American Psychological Association, stress is caused by uncomfortable emotions followed by predictable biochemical, physiological, and biological changes. I shared this question because we often say we are stressed but do not tune into the source of our stress, which is our feelings. While many stress-reducing techniques are available, if we want to get to the root of our stress, we want to pay attention to what our uncomfortable emotions are communicating from an empowered understanding.

2) According to research done by Harvard psychologist Debbie Sorensen, one of the best practices to alleviate burnout is self-awareness. While I don’t expect you to follow every psychologist, Sorensen makes a crucial case for self-awareness. Self-awareness is vital in protecting you from burnout because you are more attuned to yourself and your needs.  In other words, you are much more aware of your body’s emotional and physical warning signs.  Through having such awareness, you are better able to learn what empowered choices support you in building your resilience.  Without this awareness, you will likely continue on a trajectory that depletes you.

3) Racism, poverty, and violence negatively impact our stress response when experienced in the present and past by yourself or your ancestors. Most of us recognize how racism, poverty, and violence inhibit our sense of safety, which in turn inhibits our stress response. This is true whether you are currently experiencing these events or if they occurred in your past. The latest research also demonstrates that our ancestors’ experiences of racism, poverty, and violence continues to impact individuals for several generations. What isn’t clear is whether the impact on our stress response (based on these past events) occurs genetically, or due to psychological strategies that were unconsciously passed down through the generations, or a combination of both. In any case, the psychological impact is longer lasting than most recognize.

4) Learning to manage your emotions moves the needle the most when it comes to reducing your emotional triggers. False. Admittedly, this question is a tricky one! However, you want to learn to process your emotions rather than focus on managing them. Managing emotions often focuses on controlling our external reactions to our emotional triggers. While it is essential to learn not to take out our feelings onto others, managing our emotions doesn’t actually reduce our emotional triggers. By knowing what each emotion is communicating to you and understanding how each feeling is guiding you to shift your perceptions and behaviors, you learn to process your emotional experiences. This is the beginning of recognizing how to unhook yourself from your emotional triggers. As you continue to practice an empowered approach, the trigger has less and less of a grip on you, and ultimately the trigger dissolves.

So how did you do? The point isn’t about getting all the answers correct. Instead, the hope is for you to continue to grow your understanding of this vast topic of mental health. As each individual commits to deepening their knowledge regarding our emotions, triggers, and mental health challenges, we can collectively make essential changes to improve our lives.

Our work at the International Institute for Emotional Empowerment (IIEE) is committed to supporting individuals to learn how their emotions teach them to create inner peace as well as a deepening of their own aliveness through deepening their self-awareness. The results we have had not only increase emotional well-being and reduce overwhelm and burnout but also improve communication within teams, reduce conflict, and deepen a sense of company culture.

If you are someone who is committed to moving the needle when it comes to mental and emotional health, reach out to my team to learn more about training opportunities for individuals and organizations.  

Contact us at [email protected].

Warm Best,

Michelle Bersell

Psychotherapist and IIEE Founder