Invest In Your Mental Health Every Day | Lindsay Fleming | TEDxWilmette

Summary

In this heartfelt and personal video, the speaker shares her journey of mental health and therapy, discussing the importance of vulnerability, self-awareness, and investing in one’s well-being. She talks about her struggles with anxiety, dyslexia, and her experiences growing up with an immigrant father, which led to self-doubt and a need for constant achievement. By seeking therapy, she transformed her life, overcoming challenges like ADHD and building a successful career. The speaker emphasizes the significance of mental health and introduces 'Take Two,' a simple practice of self-awareness to improve mental well-being, encouraging others to start their own mental wellness journey.

Takeaways

• 😀 Therapy is essential for self-improvement: The speaker emphasizes the importance of seeking therapy for personal growth, even as a therapist, to better understand and practice vulnerability.
• 😀 Self-awareness is key to mental health: The speaker highlights how building self-awareness can help manage emotional distress and avoid unnecessary stress.
• 😀 Mental health is something everyone has: Mental health affects everyone, not just those diagnosed with a condition. It's crucial for overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
• 😀 Stigma around mental health needs to be addressed: The speaker encourages a shift in perspective, where mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health.
• 😀 Therapy can be life-changing: The speaker shares how therapy helped them overcome anxiety, self-doubt, and ADHD, leading to significant personal and professional growth.
• 😀 Achievements don't define self-worth: Although the speaker lists their accomplishments, they remind the audience that success is not just about external validation but feeling good internally.
• 😀 Self-care practices help manage life stress: Simple acts like taking time for mental health check-ins can improve emotional well-being and help avoid burnout.
• 😀 Mental health treatment is delayed: It takes an average of 11 years for people to seek treatment after experiencing mental health issues, a delay that can be reduced with better awareness.
• 😀 We need to start the mental health conversation early: Addressing mental health early, especially during formative years, is critical for prevention and long-term well-being.
• 😀 Small daily practices lead to big changes: The speaker shares a simple yet effective mental health practice called 'Take Two,' which encourages daily self-awareness check-ins and action to improve mental health.

Q & A

Why did the speaker decide to go back to therapy?

The speaker decided to go back to therapy for personal reasons, including the desire to practice vulnerability before asking others to do the same in their future career as a therapist.

What was the speaker's initial approach to therapy?

The speaker initially tried to approach therapy with openness, intending to share personal struggles, including anxiety, dyslexia, self-doubt, and childhood experiences. However, during the first session, they struggled to open up and ended up saying 'nothing really' when asked about their reasons for being there.

How did therapy help the speaker improve their life?

Therapy helped the speaker find self-confidence, overcome anxiety, and achieve a life without constant self-doubt. It also led to a clearer understanding of their ADHD and improved their overall mental health, which resulted in a higher GPA and success in opening their own practice.

What does the speaker mean by the term 'Take Two'?

'Take Two' refers to a practice of taking two minutes a day to check in with oneself and assess emotional and mental well-being. It involves awareness of one's feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, acknowledging any needs, and then engaging in a plan to address those needs.

How does the speaker define mental health?

The speaker defines mental health as our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, which affects how we think, feel, and act. It also impacts how we handle stress, relate to others, and make health choices.

What is the significance of the statistic that it takes an average of 11 years to seek treatment for mental health symptoms?

The statistic highlights how delayed recognition and treatment of mental health symptoms are. It emphasizes the need for earlier intervention and the importance of building self-awareness to prevent a prolonged gap between the onset of symptoms and receiving proper treatment.

What is the speaker's stance on the stigma surrounding mental health?

The speaker aims to reduce the stigma around mental health by encouraging open conversations and understanding that mental health is something everyone has and can always improve. They stress that stigma and a lack of understanding can prevent people from seeking help when needed.

How did the speaker's TikTok video on ADHD resonate with viewers?

The speaker's TikTok video about ADHD and brushing teeth resonated with viewers because it demonstrated how to adapt habits to fit one's unique brain and circumstances. The video emphasized that it’s okay to find ways that work for you, even if they go against traditional expectations.

What impact did the speaker's mental health journey have on their academic and professional success?

The speaker's mental health journey, which included therapy and improved self-awareness, directly contributed to academic success, as reflected in their GPA improvement. Professionally, it helped them open their own practice and build a successful social media presence, including over half a million followers on TikTok.

Why is it important to build self-awareness, according to the speaker?

Building self-awareness is crucial because it helps individuals recognize their emotional and mental needs, making it easier to manage distress and avoid unnecessary stress. The speaker explains that practicing self-awareness allows for better coping strategies and emotional regulation.