What Do These Mental Health Buzzwords Actually Mean?

SELF-CARE, BE MINDFUL, STAY GROUNDED. LET’S CLEAR UP SOME OF THE MOST COMMON PHRASES IN MENTAL WELLNESS

Open up any mental wellness app or an article on mental health and you’ll probably see phrases that seem self-explanatory.

Sure, I know what self-care means. I think. Wait… do I?

You shouldn’t have to be an expert to A) know what these expressions mean and B) apply them to your life. Let’s clear things up so the next time you hear someone use these mental health buzzwords, you know what the hell they’re talking about.

“Feel your feelings” 

They’re your feelings, of course you’re feeling them! Right? Sometimes, when a painful feeling comes up, your mind tries to skirt around that emotion by brushing it off, rationalizing it, or distracting your attention away from it. It’s important to process and experience what you’re feeling — both good and bad. 

“Hold space for me”

You’re in the middle of a heated conversation with someone, and as you start to respond with your side of things, they ask that you just “hold space” for them. Hold space...? What does that even mean? 

Think of it this way: holding space is like playing a neutral role in the conversation for a minute. You’re listening to someone without any judgment, without trying to solve whatever they’re saying, and without putting your opinions or needs front and center. You give them their space to say what they need to say (and vice versa). It’s all about validating and respecting another person’s emotions, while still allowing yourself to be present in your own feelings. Super easy, right?

“Be more mindful” 

Mindfulness is probably the most common buzzword that gets thrown around without much of an explanation on how exactly to be mindful. Being mindful is simply about awareness. Awareness of your thoughts, feelings, emotions. It’s about focusing on the present moment, without reliving the past or imagining the future. 

It also means that you aren't judging the things you’re thinking and feeling. Being mindful is pausing and taking a breath before reacting to something, or practicing a meditation to view just how busy your mind is. There are many ways to practice mindfulness in your daily life, and we could all use more of it (especially now that we know what it means).

“Set personal boundaries”

The word “boundaries” can sound like you’re prepping for emotional war, getting ready for combat with your feelings. It’s much less intimidating than that (thank goodness) and actually quite comforting and helpful. 

When you’re setting boundaries, it means that you’re sticking up for yourself and your needs. It means that you say no if you need to, without feeling guilty. It also means noticing patterns in your emotions with specific people and situations, and figuring out when you need to step back and recharge.

“Ground yourself” 

Maybe you’ve read about “grounding exercises” before, but what’s the purpose of them? What are you supposed to get out of it? 

Grounding is a tool to help bring you back to the present moment when you’re feeling anxious, down, or distressed by focusing your attention on your senses. When you focus on the smell of a candle, the taste of a piece of chocolate, or the feeling of a coin in your hand, you’re getting your brain to zero in on something outside of the anxiety, PTSD, or depression that your brain is feeling. It helps make you more grounded  — emotionally rooted to the earth and your present physical state instead of wandering around lost in your thoughts.

“Work in some self-care” 

You’re probably no stranger to the term “self-care”. We hear it all the time. Let’s clear up exactly what self-care is and what it isn’t. Anything that you deliberately do to take care of your overall health is self-care. Maybe that’s taking a walk every day outside, making a doctor’s appointment, or even having a tough conversation with a friend. And bonus: it doesn’t have to cost you anything. There are tons of ways to take care of yourself without having to spend any money (and no, “treating yourself” doesn’t always count as true self-care, even if social media tells you otherwise).

Self-care is going to be different for each person, and sometimes it isn’t the most glamorous thing to do (i.e. drinking enough water). But it’s a vital piece of the mental wellness puzzle — and it’s even more helpful when you know what it is.