Under Construction - MHWA Retreat

Have you ever experienced physical symptoms of a mental health issue? Yes, during a panic attack.

What kind of symptoms? Increased heart beat, shortness of breath, and my blood pressure rose.

Do you think the physical symptoms come first, or are the symptoms a reaction to your mental state? In my case, I think it was the mental state because I could feel my anxiety increase. I was afraid, which caused the shortness of breath, my heart beat to increase, and my blood pressure to rise.

Is the body part of the mind, or is the mind part of the body? They are not separate entities. The mind and body work together as part of the whole person.

Which one is in control? They are partners, and neither on should be in complete control.

What has helped you overcome the physical manifestations of mental illness? Taking deep breaths by inhaling, holding the breath for a second or two, and exhaling. Once the heart stops racing say a prayer and get up and walk around. The last thing is to write a journal, blog, or poem about it.