Photo by Marcus Urbenz on Unsplash

Today I stumbled over John Muirhead's song Cemetery Somewhere and thought to myself what a great song to remind everyone to live life to its fullest. The notion of the song is one of regret and thankfulness that we only have this one life that forces us to choose between indefinite possible paths.

This reminded me of one of Dr. Ellen Langer’s ideas, that there is no such thing as making the right decision. She believes that rather than wasting our time trying to make the right decision, we should spend our time making the decision right. Ellen Langer is a renowned pioneer of the concept of Mindfulness and strongly believes in the transformative potential of mindfulness for improving physical and mental health, which she considers as one.

Of all the difficult times people go through, sometimes the times in which they have to make important decisions can be some of the toughest! Ellen reminds us that frankly - it does not matter! What matters is how much effort we put into making our chosen path work.

For everyone interested in learning more, her full interview offers a well-researched but confronting perspective on mindfulness and the power of belief, the illusion of control, and tips to empower us to take control of our health and well-being.

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When people hear the phrase "It's all in your head," it often carries a dismissive tone, suggesting that a problem is imagined or not real. But when it comes to mental health, this phrase can be dangerously misleading—especially when it’s used to explain away physical symptoms in those with severe mental distress. On average, these individuals live about ten years less than their peers without mental health conditions and a significant part of this gap is due to physical health problems that are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.

This happens due to something called "diagnostic overshadowing." It’s when healthcare providers, perhaps without realizing it, attribute physical symptoms to a patient’s mental illness, overlooking other potential causes. This can lead to delayed or incorrect treatment, sometimes with serious consequences. Sadly, many people with mental health conditions experience this, finding that their concerns aren’t fully addressed once their psychiatric history is known.

Consider the case of Susannah Cahalan, who shares her journey in the memoir Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. She experienced seizures, hallucinations, and a host of other symptoms that baffled doctors. For a long time, her symptoms were viewed through the lens of mental illness—until it was finally discovered that she had a rare autoimmune disorder. Her story highlights how dangerous it can be when physical health issues are dismissed as "all in your head."

This problem isn’t limited to Susannah’s case; it’s a widespread issue in our healthcare system. The stigma surrounding mental illness often leads to biases in how patients are treated, and this can discourage them from seeking care. Over time, this avoidance only makes their health outcomes worse.

To fix this, we need a more integrated approach to healthcare—one that doesn’t separate mental and physical health but sees them as interconnected. Healthcare providers should be trained to listen carefully, consider all possible causes of symptoms, and ensure that patients feel understood and respected.

Ultimately, the phrase "It’s all in your head" should remind us that mental health is deeply connected to physical health, not a reason to dismiss someone’s concerns. By breaking down stigma and being mindful of the overshadowing bias, we can help ensure that everyone gets the attention and treatment they deserve—mind and body alike.

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“Our life is what our thoughts make it.”

Marcus Aurelius

“It’s all inside your head!”. What a peculiar thing to say. Of course we know what is usually implied by this statement. However, taking time to consider what’s all going on in our heads is very valuable for several reasons. Taking the time to reflect on our inner workings of thoughts and emotions is important for our mental health. It can be a preventative strategy and flag possible problematic thinking patterns or unhelpful coping mechanisms that can lead to potentially bigger problems later on.

Considering what’s going on in our head is also valuable to cultivate our wellbeing and resilience. As we cultivate our wellbeing and happiness, we are more likely to live longer, have healthier bodies, stronger relationships, and we are even more innovative and creative. Improving wellbeing can also lead to healthier communities.

I am a postgraduate psychology student hoping to become a clinical psychologist one day. I am currently learning how we can best support people who experience mental distress. However, I find it equally important to look at how we can prevent mental distress. How can we increase our protective factors, our wellbeing and our resilience to cope with times of hardship? Research shows that there are many effective ways to increase our wellbeing, but also many misconceptions. In this blog, I will take a look at the latest research and evidence-based ways to improve our wellbeing and mental health in order to foster resilience together and create healthier communities.

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