Mental health is important, but we insist on making other things more relevant, and more important. Since my twin died in December 2022, I seem to be reflecting more than when my parents died.

Cerebral Palsy is a gift

Cerebral Palsy is a gift. It gave me an outlet, a path. I am lucky I have somewhere to vent, to analyse, to explore and to discuss, for others too. I couldn't write without my gift.

My twin has found her peace

Death has brought about peace for my twin; she has finally found her peace. Her mind was always in turmoil, dealing with the weight of her childhood, her struggles and the expectations placed upon her from a small child.

Mental Health

I am grateful for the opportunities of having a platform, of being able to talk about mental health. Through a disability I didn't know I had and my own mental health struggles, I have always innately been aware of the importance of mental health support and resources, and the need for greater understanding of mental health and its impact on individuals.

I live and love to write. My blog and my writing gives me peace and the chance to be able to express myself in a way that I struggle to express verbally.

My twin

Back to my twin and I recall, it wasn't in my twin's nature to give up. She was always looking for the next thing to make her feel better, to get through. It's how I remember her to be. Where she could help others, she would seek to do that also.

For Sheila.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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2 comments on “The Importance of Mental Health”

  1. There can't be anything more important to us than our mental health. Having good mental health helps us to cope with life.

    It helps us in every aspect of our day to day lives. It helps us to cope with loss, change, fear and uncertainty and to make and keep good relationships and to learn. The CP Diary helps with mental health.

    I don't think that having good mental health means we feel good all the time, but I would equate it with positive feelings about ourselves.

    I am pleased that Sheila has found her peace. She deserves that and I hope knowing that she has found peace, is some comfort to you.

    1. Thank you. Yes, you're right, we can't be 100% all of the time, but having or being on top of our mental health, at least allows us to get to grips with our past, experiences or situations.

      People don't equate mental health with health. Until I got into and became interested in mental health, I didn't think about. We unconsciously think we have time, we take our eyes off the ball.

      Our realities are of course, very different and it all starts with how we deal with stress.

      Thank you. Yes, I know my twin is at peace now. The separation is difficult.

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