Tag: Talking

What is Time To Talk Day?

Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation. Happening every year, it’s a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives

We know the more conversations we have; the better life is for everyone. Talking about mental health isn’t aways easy, but a conversation has the power to change lives.

Communication is important, whether it's with a friend, family member, colleague or counsellor. Talking things through helps you to release tension, rather than keeping it inside. Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled.

Sometimes we just need to offload how we are feeling. If some-one takes the time to listen to us often the problem we are thinking about is reduced. However, if we do not talk about it, the problem manifests inside us and gets larger and then can cause all sorts of physical and emotional health problems. Often it then becomes more challenging to talk about, so it is important to talk about anything that is bothering you as soon as possible even if you feel it is a trivial matter. Everybody’s reality to a challenge is different.

What to do if some-one wants to talk:

• Find somewhere that the person feels safe to unload if possible.
• Walking can be a good option as it is generally a relaxing pastime and allows time to open up.
• Sitting side by side rather than opposite as it is less intimidating.
• Ask where they would like to go, but above all don’t put off the talk for the sake of finding a suitable place.

Ask open ended questions and listen.

• Avoid confrontational questions, and use words like “how does that affect you”, or “what does it feel like?”
• Very importantly listen carefully to their answers and show that you are interested in what they are talking about. Very often we ask questions and don’t really listen to the answers properly.

Don’t try and fix it.

• Sometimes we can not understand why they are making something a problem, but you are not that person and not experiencing that issue in the same way.
• Avoid giving quick fixes, help the person by listening to them.
• If appropriate suggest possibilities or refer to some-one trained to help.

This event is organised by Mind.

So, on Thursday Feb 1st if you would like to talk to me, please call on 07710722615 or email me info@abalancedbodywithbowen.co.uk to book a zoom call. It will be great to hear from you. If not me, do please talk to friends, colleagues, family.

Let’s get talking.