Journaling is not a cure for lupus and/or mental health disorders, but it can definitely be a way to discover what triggers or stressors you might have. Knowing your triggers/stressors can help when you’re tracking your lupus symptoms in case of a flare (check out our flare plan here).
We’ve borrowed a few prompts from Rise and Thrive for you to use when journaling about any possible treatment barriers you might face or experience when seeking mental health support. A barrier can be something that keeps you from seeking support or from receiving it.
- What has been your experience with the traditional medical model? Have you had mostly positive relationships with medical staff, or negative ones?
- What is your financial situation like? If you needed mental health support, do you know of a mental health facility that would fit in your budget? If not, how can you find one?
- What are your cultural beliefs about help-seeking behavior? For example, is mental health therapy a common practice in your family, or is it seen as shameful or unnecessary? How do your cultural beliefs enable or prevent you from seeking care?
- What is your belief about community resources as being an answer to mental health concerns, such as using your spiritual/faith group or your social group instead of a mental health clinician?
- Do you commonly experience language barriers? Did you have language barriers in school, or when you go out to public places?
- What are some things getting in the way of you seeking mental health treatment? For example, do you have transportation, time in your schedule, and a nearby mental health facility?
- How much does representation matter to you? Would you feel comfortable seeing a mental health therapist outside of your cultural background?
- Have you received mental health help before? What was the experience like for you? If you shared with your family or friends your experience seeking treatment, what was their response?
- What, specifically, is holding you back from seeking mental health services?
If you do need mental health support, taking the first step can be daunting, but it is well worth it in order to handle other aspects of your overall health. Please check our physician referral directory for updates on listed physicians. If you are a physician and would like to be listed, **@********as.org“>contact us for consideration.
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