Keeping Good Mental Health and Mental Hygiene
What do we mean when we speak of ‘keeping good mental health’ or ‘mental hygiene’?
Let’s use an analogy to explain this. Imagine that you go to your dentist and he says, ‘Your teeth and gums look good. No need for any fillings today!’ Not only will you be pleased (no doubt!) at not having to undergo injections and post filling discomfort, but you will also benefit from having a smaller bill at the end of your appointment. In the long run, you’ll also hope to keep all your own teeth into your old age. So when your dentist tells you how great your teeth and gums are at that time, he is talking about your overall dental health.
Now let’s imagine he says to you, ‘Your teeth and gums look good. No need for any fillings today, but just make an appointment with the hygienist who will clean your teeth thoroughly and give you some tips on brushing etc.’ When he says this, he’s putting you on the right track to learn about how to keep your teeth in a good state for as long as possible. They might be healthy today, but how do you keep them that way? This is a question of good dental hygiene. By following all the tips the hygienist gives you such as brushing, flossing, avoiding sugary foods etc. you will keep them healthy for longer.
So now let’s imagine that instead of dental health and dental hygiene we are thinking about mental health and mental hygiene. People sometimes see a Doctor or Therapist when they still have good mental health, but often they make an appointment because they are in some sort of mental distress. (Just like going to see your dentist when you have a toothache.)
Tackling your mental distress and regaining good mental health can take time, depending on the exact nature of the problem. Once you’ve made the effort to do this, it’s worth maintaining and that’s where good mental hygiene comes in.
With Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, you will not only be able to gain (or regain) good mental health, but also learn tools and techniques that allow you to practise good mental hygiene. These tips (just like those from the dental hygienist) can stop you from getting to a stage where you are in mental distress or pain again.
So the therapist’s job during your sessions will be to guide you towards good mental health and once you have it, help you plan how to maintain it by practising good mental hygiene.