What I’m trying to say is that, yes, depression is hard; it is painful, and it can feel like it’s pulling you under. But it can also be a signal for change and growth.

Maybe your soul is telling you, through this experience, that you need to stop, rest, recharge, and refocus.

Maybe your soul is whispering—or yelling—that you need to take better care of yourself and start living in a way that aligns with who you truly are.

Believe it or not, seeing psychological disorders as maladaptive responses to life’s conflicts and challenges gives us a lot to work with. This view can be truly empowering and liberating. It gives us the possibility to heal and change. It gives us hope. Because we can always learn to respond to life in a more adaptive way.

As you can see, there's a lot behind what we call a psychological disorder. There are many elements to consider before reaching a diagnosis. There's a lot happening behind the scenes. But it’s important to try to understand these conditions because understanding the problem is 50% of the solution.

The point is that there is always something we can do to improve our well-being. Always! No matter how small, no matter how insignificant it may seem, there is always something we can do to improve the quality of our lives and the lives of those around us.

This understanding, that we are mind, body, soul, and family, is the first part of the puzzle. It's the first part of the answer to the question we’re trying to tackle: What is mental health?