MENTAL HEALTH IN THE HEART OF MAUN

Many people, when trying to explain how they feel, use a general phrase: “I’m not okay.” It is a valid expression, but too broad. It can mean sadness 😔, fear 😨, anger 😠, frustration 😣, or a combination of all of them. When we do not differentiate what we feel, discomfort becomes more confusing and harder to manage. Being sad is not the same as being afraid. Feeling angry is not the same as feeling frustrated. Each emotion carries a different message and requires a different response. Learning to distinguish them is not an intellectual exercise; it is a way of gaining inner clarity 🧠. Distinguishing sadness allows us to understand loss Sadness appears when we experience loss, disappointment, or separation. It may arise from the absence of someone, from a dream that did not come true, or from a change we did not want. Its energy is slow and heavy, often inviting silence and reflection 🌧️. When sadness is not recognized, it may turn into irritability or persistent fatigue. However, ...

Many people live through a confusing experience: they feel pain in their back, neck, arms, or legs 🦴, they visit the doctor, undergo medical tests, and receive an answer that sounds reassuring but does not solve the problem: “Everything is normal.” Yet the pain continues. A deeper question then emerges: if there is no visible illness, why does the body hurt? Understanding this situation requires looking beyond medical tests. The body does not respond only to infections or injuries; it also reacts to what we go through, to the tensions we accumulate, and to the worries we carry in silence 🤐. Stress Is a Bodily Response Stress is not just repetitive thinking or constant worry. It is a biological activation ⚠️. When we face financial difficulties, family conflicts, uncertainty, or responsibilities that never seem to end, the organism enters a state of alert. In that state, muscles tighten, breathing changes, and the body prepares as if it had to defend itself. This mechanism is useful w...

In everyday life, we make decisions constantly—many of them without even noticing. What to say, what to keep quiet, where to go, who to be with, what to accept and what to refuse. During adolescence, these decisions become more frequent and sometimes more complex. Acting quickly may feel natural, but it does not always lead to good outcomes. Many impulsive decisions are not the result of a lack of intelligence, but of momentary pressure, intense emotions, or the desire to fit in. Then come the consequences: regret, conflict, guilt, or situations that could have been avoided. That is why learning to think before acting is a key skill for growing well. But… why do we sometimes act without thinking? How do emotions influence our decisions? Is it possible to pause when everything pushes us to react quickly? How can we make more conscious decisions without becoming paralyzed? These questions are essential for developing responsibility and self-control. This post invites you to reflect on d...

Grief is not experienced the same way at every stage of life. How we cope with the loss of a grandparent depends on our age, emotional maturity, and the role that grandparent played in our personal story. Understanding these differences helps us better support those who go through this pain. 💭 “Every age grieves grandparents in a different way, but all hold the same love.” 👧 How Children Experience Grief For children, death can be difficult to grasp. Some may see it as reversible, others as just a temporary absence. Their pain often shows up through tears, irritability, fear, or constant questions. Simple rituals—like drawing, storytelling, or talking about the grandparent in clear, gentle words—can help a child process the loss. 💭 “A child never forgets the grandparent who taught them to dream; they carry them in every game and every memory.” 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Teenagers and the Silence of Pain For teenagers, grief is often lived in silence. Many keep their emotions to themselves, ...

Closing a cycle isn’t just about deciding to move forward—it also means going through a process of grief. Many times, we think grief only belongs to the loss of a loved one, but in reality, we experience it every time we let go of something that mattered in our lives: a relationship, a job, a project, or a stage of life. Grief is how our mind and heart adjust to the absence of what is no longer there. Far from being an obstacle, it is a bridge we need in order to heal and open ourselves to what comes next. 🌿 The Stages of Grief Applied to Closing Cycles 🔹 Denial At first, it’s hard to accept that something has ended. We tell ourselves: “This can’t be” or “Maybe it will change.” That’s normal—but staying too long in denial keeps us trapped in what no longer exists. 🔹 Anger Frustration arises—at ourselves, at others, or even at life itself. This emotion should not be suppressed but channeled in a healthy way: writing, talking, exercising. 🔹 Bargaining We look for “shortcuts” ...

Anticipatory anxiety is a very common phenomenon: it’s the state of uneasiness or distress that appears before facing a future situation we feel concerned about. It’s not the event itself that triggers anxiety, but rather the anticipation of what might happen. While fear usually arises in response to an immediate and concrete danger, anticipatory anxiety makes us suffer over things that haven’t happened yet — and may never happen. 🔎 What is anticipatory anxiety? It’s the anxious activation of our body and mind as we imagine negative future scenarios. Our mind starts producing images, thoughts, and physical sensations of alert regarding something that may occur. Although this mechanism intends to prepare us, it often magnifies the risk and causes unnecessary distress long before the actual event. 🔹 Common examples: Before taking an exam or attending a job interview. Before speaking in public or giving a presentation. While waiting for important medical results. B...

Anxiety doesn’t only appear as worry or nervousness. Many times, its physical manifestations are the first warning signs the body sends us. Understanding how it affects sleep, appetite, and energy can help us recognize it and address it early. 🔷 Sleep becomes fragile and scarce At night, when the body tries to rest, the anxious mind keeps the brain constantly active. Repetitive thoughts, anticipatory worries, or irrational fears interrupt the natural sleep process. This can cause: Difficulty falling asleep. Frequent awakenings during the night. Waking up too early and being unable to go back to sleep. Feeling tired upon waking, as if rest wasn’t restorative. Over time, poor sleep increases irritability, fatigue, and can worsen anxiety itself. 🔷 Appetite changes unexpectedly Anxiety directly affects the mechanisms that regulate hunger. In some cases: Appetite is almost completely lost. Eating becomes unpleasant or is forgotten. In others: There is a...

Anxiety is often an uncomfortable companion when we need to make important decisions. How many times have we felt that knot in our stomach when choosing between two paths? That sense of doubt, fear of making a mistake, and the urge to foresee every possible consequence can lead us to a state of paralysis. 🚩 Why does anxiety appear when making decisions? When we decide, we take risks. We cannot control the future, and uncertainty generates anxiety. The fear of making the wrong choice, of regretting it, or being criticized can cause us to postpone important decisions or make rushed choices under pressure. 🔎 Signs that anxiety is affecting your decisions: Difficulty thinking clearly. Constantly analyzing pros and cons. Asking too many people for their opinions. Postponing the decision repeatedly. Choosing something just to get it over with. 💡 Some keys to manage this anxiety: 🔹 Accept that there’s no perfect decision. Every choice involves gains and losses. ...