October is a month filled with wonderful moments, from its crisp, cooler weather to the kaleidoscope of changing leaves—vivid oranges, yellows, and reds. It’s the season of pumpkin flavors woven into our favorite foods, cozy sweaters, and the playful spirit of Halloween, where kids and adults alike dress up and embrace their imaginations. October also invites us to pumpkin patch adventures and the creative ritual of carving them into jack-o'-lanterns. But most importantly, October marks the celebration of Mental Health Awareness on October 10th, 2024.
For decades, mental health has battled against societal stigma, and only in recent generations has the conversation started to shift in a more positive direction. People are now learning how to recognize, manage, and nurture mental well-being. There’s been a noticeable increase in education around generational trauma and its lasting effects, particularly in how behaviors and emotional patterns are inherited and passed down through families.
Many of the mental health challenges we face are deeply rooted in our family histories. The first step to overcoming them is identification. As both Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud discussed, what remains unresolved in our unconscious tends to repeat itself. According to them, “repetition compulsion” refers to our unconscious mind’s attempt to replay unresolved issues in hopes of correcting them. Until we bring these patterns into the light of awareness, they will persist. As Mark Wolynn explains in his book It Didn’t Start with You, trauma that isn’t addressed doesn’t simply disappear—it’s stored deep within us and continues to influence our lives.
Mental health issues are often tied to unresolved trauma. As a society, we must continue fostering the ability to understand the events and behaviors that shape our emotional and mental well-being, especially those passed down through generations. One of the most empowering aspects of mental health education is that we have the power to break cycles of trauma that may be deeply ingrained but not impossible to change.
Just like physical health, mental health is vital to our overall well-being, and research consistently shows how closely the two are linked. Researchers, scientists, and healthcare professionals often recommend starting simple: get outside and take a walk. Immersing yourself in nature and movement can make a significant difference in how you feel, both mentally and physically.
At the end of the day, tending to our mental health is a choice—and like many things in life, it’s not always easy. Working on our mental health can be hard but ignoring it can be even harder. Choosing to create a routine for movement, journaling, self-care, and playtime may seem challenging at first, but neglecting those practices comes with its own set of difficulties. It’s about choosing your “hard” and prioritizing what’s most important.
As we embrace October, let it embrace you. Make time for your walks, your quiet moments, your favorite books, journaling, prayers, or meditations. Make time for you. Your mental health matters, and so do you. You have a purpose in this life.
So go ahead—pick out a pumpkin that makes you smile and carve a smile into it. After all, a smiling jack-o'-lantern lights the way for us all.
“Who looks outside, dreams, who looks inside, awakes.” —Carl Jung
Suggested Reading: It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn
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