Therapeutic Implications of the Building Blocks
First, let's take a look at the relationship between mental health and thoughts. As mental health declines, a combination of changes occurs to our thought patterns. Research has shown that many mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of thoughts. These conditions can result in heightened rumination and overthinking, leading to a continuous stream of repetitive and intrusive thoughts. During manic episodes in Bipolar Disorder, thought activity can significantly escalate, with racing thoughts and difficulty in focusing on one idea. Many conditions, such as schizophrenia or other psychosis can result in disorganized and fragmented thinking.
Next, let's look at what changes we could expect to our emotions as mental health declines. When experiencing mental health challenges, emotions tend to intensify. We know that individuals facing mental health challenges often experience heightened emotional responses to various situations. Emotions like anxiety, sadness, or anger, may become more frequent and intense, making it challenging to regulate emotions effectively. Feelings of overwhelm, vulnerability, and emotional exhaustion are common as individuals navigate the complexities of mental health difficulties.
While the rate and intensity of thoughts and emotions can increase during mental health crisis, the impact of mental illness on mindful awareness can be the reverse. As mental health declines, our ability to engage in mindful awareness may reduce or diminish. This is particularly evident in individuals with severe mental health conditions, as these individuals may have very little awareness of their surroundings or ability to be rooted in the present moment. A decrease in mindful awareness might lead to a higher prevalence of autopilot thinking, where our minds habitually wander, dwelling on past regrets or future anxieties, without truly being present in the moment.
The following graph is a rough illustrative demonstration of the relationship between mental health conditions and the 3 building blocks:
In contrast, a mentally healthy individual can enjoy periods of rest from cognitive activities through increased mindfulness and emotional calm. Their existing thoughts are more likely to be balanced with mindful awareness, reducing the tendency for autopilot thinking, rumination, or worry. As a result, their emotions become interspersed with periods of calmness, where they can experience a sense of emotional balance and equanimity.
In he following slides, we'll explore strategies and practices that can assist clients on the level of each of these building blocks.