{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":""Let\u2019s Normalize Conversations with One Another about Our Mental Health"","description":"What follows is the Weekly Wellness Column which we send out by email each Friday on the same topic as our weekly podcast. Let\u2019s Normalize Conversations with One Another  about Our Mental Health   You may have heard that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In honor of that, we thought it would be helpful to offer two simple yet powerful ways we can all help reduce the stigma of talking about mental health.   Suggestion One: Let\u2019s normalize talking about our emotional pain, just like we do with physical pain. Feeling sad or anxious during a difficult time in life is as natural as feeling pain in our back or knee due to aging or injury. And yet, for many people, it\u2019s much easier to talk about physical pain.    Do you often apologize when you break down crying when talking with someone? That might be because you internalized a message that it\u2019s not okay to share sadness and vulnerability with others.     When we share emotional pain with others, it becomes a little easier to bear\u2014just like we might feel relief when we talk about a physical ailment.   Suggestion Two: Let\u2019s normalize listening when someone opens up about an emotional challenge. When someone shares that they\u2019re feeling down or on edge, and we respond with silence or quickly change the subject, they may end up feeling even more isolated. Instead, we can show care by staying present, asking gentle questions, and offering our full attention. Listening deeply helps others feel seen and supported.   It wasn\u2019t that long ago that people avoided talking about cancer. The \u201cC word\u201d was often spoken in whispers, adding shame and loneliness to an already difficult experience. Thankfully, that has changed\u2014talking openly about cancer is now common, and support is readily available.   This May, let\u2019s take another step forward. Let\u2019s all do our part to normalize open conversations about mental health\u2014starting by talking honestly about our own experiences and by listening compassionately to others.                                         ","author_name":"The Wellness Compass Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/podcast.wellnesscompass.org\/podcasts\/the-wellness-compass-podcast","html":"