Mental Health Is More Important Than Physical Health
Mateo Chavez
Every time I believe that mental health is better than physical health, I'm constantly reminded that it's 100% wrong. Both boys and men should be focusing on their mental health just as much as their own physical health.
I don't know how, but at a young age I taught myself that boys shouldn't cry, so whenever I felt angry, sad or frustrated I kept it to myself. Over time it turned into anger, and I didn't really know why I was mad any more. Now that I am older I realized why I was feeling overwhelmed. It was because of all the things that were happening all at once. I was mad at myself for pushing my feelings away and putting other things first. In those moments of frustration I noticed that I was being inconsiderate about my own feelings. Because of my inconsiderate actions I was overwhelmed, sad and dealt with anxiety.
The bigger idea my belief connects to is breaking gender stereotypes. It's helpful for men and boys to feel and seek help if needed. This matters because it can save lives. Not seeking help can lead to depression, anxiety and substance abuse. All three of those things can lead to harm to not just yourself, but people around you and in your community.
In sports, people are often expected to “tough it out”, but mental health matters just as much as physical health. Sometimes the coach in a team checks on a player to make sure they're okay to play. That creates a healthier culture in sports where physical strength includes emotional awareness.
Mental strength matters just as much as physical strength, especially for boys and men who are often taught to hide or push off their emotions and feelings. If we want stronger athletes, better and healthier relationships and safer communities, we should really stop treating mental health like a weakness. I think true strength isn’t just about physical endurance it’s also about the courage to realize when you need help.
Writer's Statement
In this essay, I wrote about how Men and boys should be focusing on their mental health just as much as their physical health and strength. When I was younger I taught myself that boys shouldn't cry. I chose that personal belief story because it shows a moment when I wasn't giving myself enough time to think about my mental health. Because of my thoughtless actions I dealt with a lot of harsh feelings that at the time, I didn't even know how to deal with. What made my personal story important to my belief is that it showed my old values as a young child, but now that I've matured more and realized the truth about how young men and boys should be treating their mental health, it helped shape my life and some of my core beliefs. My story shows how my beliefs and opinions changed based on how I’ve grown throughout the years of my life. I chose to start my essay with a statement. The reason I used a statement to start off my essay is because it immediately catches the reader's attention and focuses on what I am writing about. I also chose to start my essay with a statement because it sets the tone of what the subject is going to be.
“At a young age I thought to myself that boys shouldn't cry ”. “I was mad about pushing my feelings away”. I brought light to these parts of my essay because it brings my belief into action and shows why you need it. For example “In sports boys are expected to “tough it out”, that quote really brings my belief to life, because instead of just “toughing it out”, you are acknowledging the fact that you are not okay. If you can’t even bring a smile to your face with honesty I would focus on that instead of pushing it aside. During the writing process of my essay I revised and changed my belief countless times. I did that because I wanted to really make sure I had a belief that I truly followed. I hope that when you’re done reading my essay you have taken into consideration how real this subject can be, and will continue to take mental health seriously, not just for yourself, but for others around you too.