Therapy can be transformative for mental health, however it doesn't have all the answers - especially if you're dealing with severe mental health Issues. Some of life's most powerful psychological insights come from beyond the therapist's office.
As someone who has spent years exploring both traditional therapy and alternative mental health strategies, I've discovered that true emotional wellness often requires a more comprehensive approach.
These eight essential mental health lessons challenged everything I thought I knew about psychological healing—and none of them came from a therapy session.
8 Non-Therapy Mental Health Insights
Create your own space
There’s no pre-made space for you in this world. Like many of you, I’ve struggled to feel like I belong. Over time, I realized that my life—my interests, personality, and struggles—don’t fit neatly into any existing mold. I stopped searching and started creating the space I needed to thrive, built on my own values and standards rather than someone else’s idea of who I should be.
Stability Over Chaos
An unexciting life with a healthy mind and body feels infinitely better than an exciting one with an unhealthy foundation. I’ve lived both, and I can tell you the stability of routine has given me peace and strength that chaos never could. Stability doesn’t mean settling—it means freedom from constant battles with my own body and mind.
Mental Health Is Life or Death
I’ve also come to accept that mental health is a matter of life and death. It isn’t something you can “tough out” or ignore. Depression, anxiety, and other conditions are as real and impactful as any physical ailment, and they demand the same urgency and care.
Choose Relationships Wisely
The people around us matter deeply. I’ve learned that having no peer group is better than surrounding myself with unhealthy influences. Toxic relationships pull us away from our goals and values, often without us realizing it. When I had to choose, I found that isolation, while lonely, was far better than being dragged in the wrong direction.
Envy Is Ignorance
Social media and comparison culture taught me another valuable lesson: envy is ignorance. We only see the surface of someone else’s life, never the sacrifices or struggles they endure. Chasing someone else’s highlight reel is a recipe for dissatisfaction because we’re comparing our reality to their curated fiction.
Practicality Over Perfection
Not all advice, no matter how scientific is practical for everyone. Advice must fit your circumstances to be useful. When I learned to filter out advice that didn’t align with my reality, I stopped feeling like I was failing at impossible standards and started focusing on what worked for me.
Focus for Effectiveness
Focus has been another transformative principle in my life. When you try to do everything, you end up doing everything poorly. Like a garden hose with water spraying in every direction, your energy becomes diffused. Narrowing my focus to what truly matters—my health, my family, and my work—has made me more effective in all areas of my life.
Treasure the Present
Finally, I’ve learned to treat every meaningful experience as if it could be the last. This one still carries grief for me, but it’s a reminder to stay present. Whether it’s reading a bedtime story to my daughter or revisiting a cherished place, I strive to give these moments my full attention. The future isn’t guaranteed, and I don’t want to take the gifts of today for granted.
The road to mental health is complex, but every step forward matters. Whether you’re creating your space, letting go of toxic influences, or learning to treasure the moment.
I’ve shared more about these lessons and how they’ve shaped my journey in a video. You can watch it here.
- Scott
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For those suffering with depression and feeling unseen and helpless, I wrote this for you - because I was you.
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Games and Apps
Check out this mobile video game scientifically proven to help with symptoms of depression and anxiety. (Partner link)
I am interested to know more about creating your own space. Can you explain this more what exactly does that look like and how to go about it. Thank you for your work and making it accessible.