[THREAD] Control and mental health. We often don’t think about these two as being linked a lot, but for most of us who have gone through/are going through mental health problems, they are very intertwined. Let’s talk a little bit about how control and mental health are linked.

In all anxiety disorders, there is a fear of uncertainty and the future. It is an environment that doesn’t yet exist and that we can’t control and that becomes very scary. Therefore, we tend to over control aspects of our lives in our immediate environment.

That can manifest itself by controlling every little thing in our environment as a coping mechanism because it gives us a sense of relief to have some sense of control over our lives. While it is perfectly normal to do that, there are times when it can be harmful.

For example, we all compulsively cleaned, cooked or focused on a very specific task while waiting for results of our exams or in order to avoid thinking about our future. It is normal to try to use these distractions as a way to stay away from our thoughts.

However, there may come a point when these behaviours become avoidant. For example, we may become overly controlling about our environment to the point where if we don’t engage in those behaviours, our anxiety gets worse.

Furthermore, engaging in those behaviours takes a lot of energy and time, which may stop us from doing enough work, studying, self-care, etc...They become rituals that become ever more consuming. In order to get that same relief, we increase those behaviours.

Most of the time, it happens because we don’t externalize enough. Instead of properly externalizing, we engage in those behaviours to control our environment because it is easier to calm the thoughts or worries than to talk about them and have to process them.

Processing emotions and thoughts and sharing them with others may not always be easy, but it is a necessary step that allows us to not repress what is going on inside of us. If you find yourself engaging in controlling your environment very often whenever your anxiety goes up,

Please consider externalizing more and more and slowly decreasing those behaviours at the same time. If it is too anxiety inducing to do so, please consider treatment whether it is medication and/or therapy to help lift your mood enough that you don’t need those behaviours.

Having a sense of control over our environment is important, but mental health can definitely take it overboard. I hope that this small thread helped show some of that link between the two