Blog: How To Thrive in a Stressful World

In a game of word-association, ‘mental health’ may prompt responses such as ‘depression’, ‘anxiety’, and ‘schizophrenia’.  But everyone has mental health.

Today is World Mental Health awareness day, a good opportunity to look at how we can protect our mental health against the inevitable stresses of life.

When our mental health is good, a person will cope well with life’s stresses.  That can be the case for someone with a diagnosed mental illness who is getting the support and treatment they need.

But there are also people who don’t have a mental health problem who are nonetheless languishing. Psychologist Adam Grant describes languishing as “feeling like you're muddling through your days, looking at your life through a foggy windshield.”

For many the feeling of languishing was their mood music through the pandemic. For some it still is. But we don’t have to accept it as inevitable.  More, we shouldn’t ignore it, as languishing is a risk factor for developing depression in future.

There are tried and tested ways to reverse languishing. We’ve previously shared five ways to wellbeing on this blog; be social, move more, notice what’s going around and inside you in the moment, keep learning, and help others.  There’s no single one-off solution; your wellbeing is like a leaky tyre that needs continual topping-up.  The Age Scotland helpline (0800 12 44 222) can help you connect with wellbeing boosting social and activity groups locally and arrange friendship calls if you need someone to chat to.

The helpline team can also assist with some of life’s biggest stressors, providing information and advice on topics including household finances, housing, and accessing care and health services.

Age Scotland’s suite of advice guides includes two dedicated to mental health, a guide for older people generally, and one for carers.   You can read the guides online here or order free copies from our online order form.