It broke me today. I found myself saying what’s the point?
A comment was made about how people don’t want to be seen coming to my workshop as it might be perceived that they have something ‘wrong’ with them.
And I am tired of the responses – good luck getting people there!
We have come a long way but we have a long way to go.
Getting a facilitator to work with your team, taking time out to reflect on wellbeing and getting help to focus on your mental health needs to be celebrated.
I can understand where they are coming from especially when you have a reputation to up hold – it takes me back to when some students would avoid me like the plague when I was the school counsellor but happy to come and see me in student services to have the same conversation.
There is also the reality that none of us have it all sorted and focussing on our wellbeing is an ongoing process.
One of the reasons I have moved away from the clinical space to the preventative space is that people came to see me when they were absolutely broken and depleted where potentially the practice of checking in before it got to this point could disrupt that trajectory.
I will dust myself off and pick myself up to keep helping others find their own strategies – I acknowledge that even though I speak about this everyday, I am not immune. It is a process of showing up while also integrating my own mental illnesses into this thing called life.
Some days it’s easier than others and while overwhelm, dips in confidence, frustrations and wonderful all mixed together, I have had some space to realise
The point is…
This is not just a tick box exercise for me. I know that the connection in my workshops is one of the best preventative strategies we can adopt – it’s not just about content or worksheets.
The most powerful shifts happen when you discover for yourself – not me telling you what to do or relating to some ‘framework’ where you feel like a failure if you don’t feel better immediately.
It is important for us all to take time to put the rest of the world on hold, check in with how we are really and be reminded of the things that help.
Unless we take the shame out of attending a wellbeing workshop, mental illness will remain hidden and that puts people at risk of being isolated and alone when they need support and connection.
We are all navigating the spectrum of mental health and if you are finding it really challenging, it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you – this is life and it is important to seek support.
I could go on.
And what do you know, writing this out and expressing it has helped – (insert sarcastic tone) maybe there should be some workshops that help with preventative strategies like this!!!
The conversation is ongoing. I am interested in your thoughts on how we normalise coming to a wellbeing workshop as much as we do for going to the hairdresser to freshen up or taking our car to get serviced so that it doesn’t break down.
The shame of attending a wellbeing workshop
