mental health matters - your brain

we think with it right

but don't think about it so much

so let's think about this

-

the brain

it's an organ in the body

it has a vital role

a profound perfunctory purpose

it weighs about three pounds

-

three pounds of primarily water and fat

and

it doesn't just keep your heart beating

it mitigates

EVERYTHING

-

any awareness you have of the world around you

is because you have a brain

every wish every hope every desire

every smile every laugh every feeling

every regret every sadness every disappointment

every sensation

every movement

mitigated by your brain

-

it interprets facilitates enables overrides underwrites

determines supposes surmises perceives organizes

relates regulates mobilizes monitors translates

ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING

it perceives

the world around us

our experiences

the experiences of others

and stores fragments of each unique complex moment

consciously

unconsciously

to sort catalogue reference and interrelate

into

constructs of understanding

belief structures

protective mechanisms

and response patterns

-

it allows us to be connected to each other in the present

it is what connects us to our past

and determines our future

-

life is what it is

because of how this organ

our brain

functions

-

but

we rarely think of it

much less

think of it as an organ

just like the other organs we rely on

day in day out

-

if your stomach hurts

if your eyes get blurry

if you can't breathe

it doesn't diminish you as a person

you seek professional help

-

but

for some reason

when happiness fades

when anger irritability anxiety invade

and so much more about the world seems unpleasant

when feelings of self worth erode

when pleasure wanes

and thoughts race

when the little things become big things

when hopelessness helplessness and despair visit

but rarely leave

when these things persist

in an unnatural

what's wrong with me sort of way

we don't often seek help

-

we blame others

we blame ourselves

we wait

we need

we hurt

-

the brain is an organ

very like every other organ

and as such it is susceptible

to alterations affecting optimal performance

things like

bad chemistry

distorted constructs

counter productive protective mechanisms

-

so maybe

it's not a character flaw to be defensive or ashamed about

maybe

it's not weakness

maybe

it's not the world

maybe

it's just your brain

being an organ

and

maybe

it's time to get help