Let's Talk Mental Health Awareness

Working in the property industry can be incredibly rewarding, but as the last few years of an insanely busy market have demonstrated, it can also be incredibly challenging and stressful. Long hours combined with emotionally charged high-pressure situations on the daily, and the ever-changing conditions of the market can all take a massive toll on our mental health.

We've seen in recent years the number of high-profile people who've come out to share stories of how their mental health has suffered and the impact it has had on both their lives and the lives of others around them.

Yet despite such strong endorsements for looking after ourselves, and becoming aware of the suffering which can stem from mental health challenges, in my experience it's still something which is not particularly well understood, and frankly, most people's opinions on the subject are divided by whether or not they've suffered with depression, anxiety or a breakdown of some description in their lives.

So, let's cast off the stigma's and take a look at how mental ill-health can affect us as individuals, or our colleagues in the workplace, and ultimately, what to do about it.

Recognising the Signs

One of the most insidious things about mental ill-health, is that the signs of deterioration do not usually make themselves known until it gets to the point of being too late. Western society unfortunately makes a great cult out of effort and "soldiering on" when times are tough – especially the British with their "stiff upper-lip" approach - whilst also demonising rest time and promoting lack of sleep.

There are many things in today's modern society which affect our mental health in ways which our ancestors never had to worry about. The rising cost of living, the ever-increasing uncertainty in the world (especially after recent years throughout the pandemic), and even the ever-present impact of "doom-scrolling" on social media can undermine us, leaving us feeling stressed out, struggling to cope and somehow feeling that we're ultimately not good enough.

This is especially true when we start comparing the entirety of our lives with the highlights of other people's shared through social media posts - all of which disappear after a few moments, but the negative impact on our thoughts in those few seconds can last a very long time.

As an example, a friend shared recently how she wished she had a life similar to another mutual friend who was all over Instagram. She admired her perfect lifestyle with her perfect boyfriend, and felt she was less than in comparison. Yet behind the scenes, this "perfect lifestyle" of photographs and stories in exotic locations with the six-pack boyfriend was funded by a mountain of debt, tied into a relationship where both people were unhappy yet were also desperately putting on a good show for the camera.

Yet despite such things happening or the heavy demands on our daily lives, many of us plough on regardless, even though we may be experiencing high levels of stress which our bodies are not designed to cope with. True, we can tolerate intense stresses for a short period of time, but the major problem today is that our modern-day stress almost never goes away.

We get worked up during the day over something, then we drive home whilst getting stuck behind someone who we feel is being inconsiderate, we then arrive home late and instead of eating a healthy balanced meal and going to bed early to recuperate, we stay up late watching TV, doing a few extra hours on the laptop, or mindlessly scrolling on social media – not realising that the blue light is destroying our mitochondria, affecting our sleep patterns, preventing the body from repairing itself during our times of rest, and then we wonder why we're tired the next morning!

To compensate, we down a big mug of coffee which overstimulates our nervous system, pumping more adrenaline into our bodies before we repeat the whole process again for another day!

Sometimes, this cycle can go on for years before our bodies eventually give up and say enough – and we end up in a breakdown, or we become full of anxiety, or cannot get out of bed because we're feeling totally depressed and like life just isn't worth it anymore.

Trust me when I say I've been there, and before you know it, the accomplishments you were once proud of can begin to unravel as burnout starts to set in and you find yourself making serious mistakes, or worse, losing interest in what was once the beauty of life.

So to me, it's vital to recognise the signs of deteriorating mental health before things get too serious or out of hand. In my experience, some of the signs include:

• Feelings of Anxiety
• Depression or low mood
• Mood swings
• Difficulty concentrating or staying focussed on one task with clear thoughts
• Insomnia or other sleep disturbances
• Irritability or anger
• Lack of energy or motivation to do anything
• Increased use of drugs or alcohol abuse

Again, in my experience, these signs may be accompanied by physical symptoms, such as a shortage of breath, increased heart rate, nervousness or anxious feelings, headaches, or migraines, uncontrollable sobbing or shouting, or in my case, an episode of shingles!

Now clearly, I'm not a doctor, and the purpose of this article is not to attempt to treat or diagnose any such symptoms. If you're in any doubt, or you're not feeling your usual self, I would always encourage you to seek the professional help of a doctor or other suitably qualified professional who can assist you with regaining your mental health. I'm merely sharing this article to help raise awareness of some of the problems people experience, based on my life events so far.

That said, if you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms, or you suspect there may be mental health deterioration at play, it's important that you (tactfully) take action to begin to help turn the situation around.

Where To Get Help

If you, or someone you know is experiencing deteriorating mental health, seeking the help of a suitably qualified mental-health professional is a must. For most people, the first port of call is your General Practitioner (GP) who can then refer you onto a mental health specialist.

However, you may feel more comfortable finding a therapist or counsellor on your own, and I would always actively encourage you to do this if you felt you were wavering in some way. There are also many other support groups and helplines available, such as Mind or even the Samaritans, who can provide useful help and advice to get you back on your feet asap.

If you're concerned about a friend, colleague, or co-worker, it's important to approach the situation sensitively and with tact and diplomacy. Let them know you're there for them and regularly check in to make sure they're ok. If you suspect they're struggling, encourage them to seek some help, advice, and support. After all, it costs nothing to talk to someone who may be able to help you find a way out of the situation.

I appreciate this is easier said than done, and most people struggle to open up, although this is becoming more and more acceptable nowadays. When you're empathetic and patient towards others and take a keen interest in them and their lives, it can really help them feel comfortable enough to open up and share what's on their mind. I have personally found taking the lead and relating to people through my own experiences of mental-health struggles helps others feel instantly understood.

Natural Solutions

One of the things I see all too often is people being prescribed pills to help them manage the situation. Whilst there are certain circumstances where pills can be effective in helping to manage some mental health issues initially, I'm personally not convinced of their efficacy over the long term. I recall a friend telling me once that apparently Prozac is only 2% more effective than a placebo (sugar pill) at helping people overcome depression (have a read of this article and make up your own mind).

So, if you're struggling right now and want to embrace some natural solutions to help navigate a current challenging time, here's what I've personally found really helpful in the past:

• Regular exercise: People tend to shy away from this one as they think it involves training for an Ironman competition every day! However, it can be as simple as going for a walk in the countryside with your dog, a friend or family member and notice how you feel after the first thirty minutes or so. I've personally always found walking a fantastic way to help reduce my personal stress levels and improve my mood. I'd also encourage you to look as far away into the horizon as possible whilst you're walking as for some reason, I've found this extremely helpful in putting me in a good mood.
  
  
• Mindfulness: Practices such as meditation and deep breathing can really help you to reduce personal anxiety and give a feeling of relaxation. Whenever I'm with people who are in a tough situation and they start panicking, my first words are "Just Breathe!" and I encourage them to take some deep breaths in through their nose, to hold it for a few seconds, and then exhale through the mouth slowly. Then repeat the process. For some reason, this really helps to calm people down and may work wonders for you too – try it and see how you get on!
  
  Interestingly, when our bodies become stressed, our breathing becomes shallower and sometimes we can literally forget to breathe! So conscious breathing deep into our tummies can really help. I can also personally recommend Tony Quinn's 'Relaxation with a purpose' meditation which you can find on his website (www.tonyquinn.co.uk)
  
  
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This was something which I personally found incredibly beneficial and so can only say good things about it. Somehow I found myself in the office an absolute angel going by the name of Caroline who was patient and kind enough to listen to me at a time when I was really struggling and didn't understand my own mind. She took the time to map out the network of intertwining and conflicting thoughts onto a piece of paper and once she showed it to me, it was like a magic moment of personal revelation! 
  
  
• Spending time in nature: This is an absolute must-do as far as I'm concerned. Nowadays, we spend far too much time cooped up in an artificial environment which is completely detached from nature. Getting back out into nature to walk, run, sit and meditate, paint the landscape, take photographs, or just sit quietly and observe your surroundings can help to reduce stress and improve your overall mental well-being. This is also one of the things I love about having a dog and walking him in the countryside as I'm not only getting regular exercise, but also being away from my desk and the million other distractions whilst I experience the joy of watching him run around and make new friends! It's the simple things that help to bring joy, especially if your phone is switched off and you're not being distracted by notifications.
  
  
• A healthy diet: As foods become more and more processed, it can be really hard to make sure we're getting the right amount of nutrition in our diets as well as eating foods which aren't saturated with pesticides which can be very detrimental to our health. Whilst taking a good quality multivitamin can go some way to redress the balance, it's important to bring healthy and natural foods into your diet to help sustain and improve your energy levels and overall health. I've personally found great benefits from steamed veg with lean meats, reducing caffeine and swapping dark high-cocoa content chocolate for my sugar addiction.
  
  Find what works for you and try to avoid the highly processed food outlets and drive-throughs. If you're open to improving your mental health through diet, it's also worth doing some research on foods which can cause inflammation in the body as there's significant research to suggest inflammation can lead to a decrease in mental health. For more information, I suggest getting your hands on a copy of Paul Chek's excellent book "How to eat, move and be healthy."
  
  

The Importance of a Supportive Work Environment

Finally, it's important to note that a supportive work environment can go a long way towards protecting and enhancing your mental health. This means having a boss who is understanding and supportive, colleagues who are friendly and helpful, and a company culture which values employee well-being.

If you've ever worked for a tyrant of a boss who barks orders at people and treats employees like they are dirt, you'll know the damage such people can do to your emotional well-being, not to mention the detrimental affects it can have on the company. I once worked on a team for someone who behaved like this and can honestly say it was one of the most stressful times of my life. My advice is to leave such organisations as soon as possible – its honestly just not worth the sacrifice to your personal wellbeing.

We spend much of our lives at work, so it's vital we align ourselves with a supportive working environment and people we can trust. Anything else just isn't worth it. Otherwise find work you love and enjoy, then throw yourself into it wholeheartedly.

In Conclusion

Protecting your mental health is incredibly important, especially when working in the property industry. By recognising the signs of deteriorating mental health, seeking help when you need it, and taking steps to promote and enhance your natural well-being, you can stay on top of your mental well-being and thrive in your career.

Remember, mental health is just as important as physical health (if not moreso), and there's no shame in seeking help when you need it. The old stigma's around this topic have fallen away, so there's absolutely no shame in speaking out and getting support when you feel it's necessary. 

And finally, one book I recommend reading on this topic is called The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris. It will help in understanding how mental health issues can arise and more importantly, what to do about it.