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Mental health strengthens our ability to: 2\. One way to achieve positive mental health is to recognize the three pillars of mental health: 3\. What is Mental Flexibility? 4\. What is Mindfulness? 5\. What is Resilience? 6\. Why Are The 3 Pillars of Mental Health Important? _By Nicholette Leanza, M.Ed, LPCC-S_ In recent years, researchers have emphasized that mental health is just as important as physical health when it comes to a person’s overall wellbeing. Our mental health encompasses our psychological, emotional, and social well-being and this can impact how we think, feel, and behave every day. ## Mental health strengthens our ability to: - Have healthy relationships - Maintain our physical health - Make good decisions - Reach our fullest potential Understanding the foundations of good mental health will help you feel happier and more fulfilled in your life. ## One way to achieve positive mental health is to recognize the three pillars of mental health: 1. Mental flexibility 2. Mindfulness 3. Resilience **Build a strong foundation. Our providers can help.** [Make an Online or In-Person Appointment](https://lifestance.com/provider/) ### Take Our Quick & Easy Anxiety Questionnaire Persistent and uncontrollable anxiety that disrupts your daily life could be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Take this assessment to identify symptoms commonly associated with anxiety and understand if you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Start Questionnaire This health survey is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding any personal health concerns. Completion of this survey does not establish a patient-clinician relationship. Responses are NOT monitored. If you are thinking of harming yourself or others please call toll-free 9-8-8 for the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (available 24/7), 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room. By proceeding, you acknowledge this disclaimer and agree that this tool is for general awareness only. You assume all risks associated with its use. The survey administrators are not liable for reliance on its content. The above health survey is based on the Patient Health Questionnaire GAD-7. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are Pfizer products. PHQ Copyright © 1999 Pfizer Inc. No permission required to reproduce, translate, display or distribute. Over the last two (2) weeks, how often have you been bothered by the following problems? "\*" indicates required fields Step 1 of 8 12% Question 1\* Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge | Not At All | Several Days | More than Half the Days | Nearly Everyday | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | Question 2\* Not being able to stop or control worrying | Not At All | Several Days | More than Half the Days | Nearly Everyday | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | Question 3\* Worrying too much about different things | Not At All | Several Days | More than Half the Days | Nearly Everyday | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | Question 4\* Trouble relaxing | Not At All | Several Days | More than Half the Days | Nearly Everyday | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | Question 5\* Being so restless that it is hard to sit still | Not At All | Several Days | More than Half the Days | Nearly Everyday | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | Question 6\* Becoming easily annoyed or irritable | Not At All | Several Days | More than Half the Days | Nearly Everyday | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | Question 7\* Feeling afraid, as if something awful might happen | Not At All | Several Days | More than Half the Days | Nearly Everyday | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | Your Zip Code\* Please enter your zip code ## What is Mental Flexibility? Mental flexibility is the ability to adjust your thinking and behavior quickly in order to deal with various circumstances differently. Being able to adapt to new or complex situations is an important mechanism for getting unstuck from old habits as well as being able to let go of emotional baggage and resentments. Staying flexible in regards to life’s inevitable surprises will serve you well in achieving emotional wellbeing. One way to improve your mental flexibility is to become aware of when you are getting stuck in your thinking. When you realize that you are telling yourself that you “can’t do something,” you need to pivot and reset your mindset. Tell yourself “maybe I can.” Processing and letting go of grudges and resentments will also keep you moving forward in your life and not stuck in your past. ### LifeStance Health is a national leader in mental, behavioral, and emotional wellness with multiple locations in 33 states. Services vary by location. #### Find a provider near you: - \\ \\ Arizona](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/az/) - \\ \\ California](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/ca/) - \\ \\ Colorado](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/co/) - \\ \\ Delaware](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/de/) - \\ \\ Florida](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/fl/) - \\ \\ Georgia](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/ga/) - \\ \\ Illinois](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/il/) - \\ \\ Indiana](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/in/) - \\ \\ Kansas](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/ks/) - \\ \\ Kentucky](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/ky/) - \\ \\ Maine](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/me/) - \\ \\ Maryland](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/md/) - \\ \\ Massachusetts](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/ma/) - \\ \\ Michigan](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/mi/) - \\ \\ Minnesota](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/mn/) - \\ \\ Missouri](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/mo/) - \\ \\ Nevada](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/nv/) - \\ \\ New Hampshire](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/nh/) - \\ \\ New Jersey](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/nj/) - \\ \\ New York](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/ny/) - \\ \\ North Carolina](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/nc/) - \\ \\ Ohio](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/oh/) - \\ \\ Oklahoma](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/ok/) - \\ \\ Oregon](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/or/) - \\ \\ Pennsylvania](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/pa/) - \\ \\ Rhode Island](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/ri/) - \\ \\ South Carolina](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/sc/) - \\ \\ Tennessee](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/tn/) - \\ \\ Texas](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/tx/) - \\ \\ Utah](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/ut/) - \\ \\ Virginia](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/va/) - \\ \\ Washington](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/wa/) - \\ \\ Wisconsin](https://lifestance.com/provider/all/wi/) ## What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is a mindset achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment, as well as the ability to acknowledge and accept your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Mindfulness grounds you in the present moment, which can enable you to navigate and manage your unruly thoughts and emotions better. One mindfulness strategy is the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique. This technique entails noticing: - 5 things that you see around you - 4 things you can feel such as your back against the chair or your hair on your neck - 3 things you can hear - 2 things that you can smell - 1 thing you can taste like toothpaste from brushing your teeth or a cup of coffee you drank Practicing this exercise will ground you to the present moment as well as settle your cluttered mind that can easily be littered with worries and perseverating. ## What is Resilience? Resilience is the capacity to recover swiftly from difficult situations or experiences in your life. The ability to bounce back from hardships and learn from these experiences is a necessary tool to enable us to move forward. Not allowing yourself to be paralyzed by life challenges will also build mental toughness and a strong character. One way to begin building resilience is to recognize the lessons that can be learned from difficult situations in life. Reframing your thinking to a growth mindset will enable you to overcome your difficult experiences. It is often our hardships that make us stronger individuals and successful at conquering our fears. ## Why Are The 3 Pillars of Mental Health Important? Understanding the three pillars of mental health and striving to incorporate them into your life will dramatically improve the health of your mental and emotional wellbeing. With these three pillars of mental health, you will build a strong foundation for an empowered life filled with purpose and meaning. Practicing ways to become more mentally flexible, incorporating mindfulness techniques into your daily life, and building your resilience to life’s difficult problems will most definitely lead you to a healthier and more content life. Making a commitment to tend to your mental health and seeing it as an important aspect of your overall health will perhaps inspire others to do the same. Your inspiration of others may contribute to the breaking down of the stigma that has led to the suppression of positive mental health in previous generations. About the stigma surrounding mental health, Glenn Close, the American actress and co-founder of Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging dialogue about mental health, said it best: “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation.” There is no time like the present to get the conversation going and build our pillars to better mental health. **Build a strong foundation. Our providers can help.** [Make an Online or In-Person Appointment](https://lifestance.com/provider/) ### Latest News From LifeStance Health Δ Email Address(Required) ### Authored By [LifeStance Health](https://lifestance.com/clinical-experts/) LifeStance is a mental healthcare company focused on providing evidence-based, medically driven treatment services for children, adolescents, and adults. * * * ### Content Notice [IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CONTENT](https://lifestance.com/content-disclaimer/) Search Results× ⌕ × ### Find a Provider Near You Search by City or ZIP CodeSearch ### Search Articles ×