Understanding mental and emotional health can be tricky! Both of these are huge parts of our physical health and just as important! I had some help tackling topics in this area when I had an incredible conversation with Brittany Watson. 

Brittany is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker trained in EMDR. She has experience in adoption, medical, mental health, and substance abuse. She has some insightful information that I’m excited to share!

What made you want to pursue a career as a therapist?

Brittany explained she saw many injustices in the world and wanted to have a career that could help people investigate those injustices. In the beginning, she actually said she would never work as a therapist. As she got further into her career and received her clinical license, she realized she really enjoyed working in mental health on the therapy side of things. She described how sitting with someone as they learn more about themselves, learn new coping strategies, work through past trauma, and realize how resilient they are is one of the biggest honors.

In what ways does our mental and emotional health tie into our physical health?

They are so intricately connected! Brittany said that the first appointment she has with individuals entails asking them about their physical health history and the last time they were seen for a physical, just to rule out any physical things that could mimic mental health symptoms.

They both impact the other. For example, when we feel stress, our body physically reacts to it. If we have a chronic illness, we tend to have mental and emotional implications of that.

How can someone start to recognize patterns in their mental and emotional health?

This can sometimes feel a bit challenging, just because some things can feel very normal to us because we have processed or erected that way our entire lives. Having patience and an open mind as well as compassion for yourself can help you start to recognize those patterns. 

Journaling was another idea Brittany gave. This helps you identify themes in your thoughts and feelings. You could also seek feedback from trusted and safe people. Another great thing, monitor your self-talk. What you tell yourself, you will start to believe so make sure you have a handle on that.

What are some healthy ways to navigate and process difficult emotions?

Acknowledge and label the emotion. This is huge! If you can realize what you are feeling and put a label on it then you will better be able to navigate that emotion. Along the same lines with that is self-compassion. This is crucial in processing emotions because kindness to ourselves makes all the difference.

Another thing you can do is find creative outlets to express emotions. This is great because no matter your interests, you can use this as an outlet.

You can always seek professional support if you’re needing extra help.

What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck or alone in their struggles?

We have all felt this at some point in our lives. And it can feel pretty lonely. Brittany recommends when you feel this way to identify the source of your struggles. Where are they coming from? Start small, you don’t have to fix everything at once. Choose things that are achievable first. 

There are so many resources to help you in this area. If you’re not sure where to start:

• Suicide hotline – 988
• Domestic abuse hotline – 800.799.SAFE
• Psychology Today for information on counseling

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If you liked this blog, here’s more for you!

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