Every day is a voyage into the unknown. And that's a good thing, because new territories await discovery beyond the horizon. You might manage to avoid a real storm (fingers crossed!), but even a slight rocking of the boat is inevitable – that's life. To conclude this maritime metaphor; we all have our rough patches. However, by better understanding ourselves, we can resist them and not succumb to crises and depression. See how psychoeducation works.
Fighting depression and stereotypes, but by an operator? What?! Well ahoy there, we are a mobile operator, but a community-driven one! At Mobile Vikings, we care not only about our own, and socially important topics are close to our hearts. We break patterns not just in the telco industry. Szalupy Ratunkowe is a project that functions precisely thanks to the dedicated community of Vikings.
You don't have to be a psychologist to understand what's going on in your head. Knowledge, curiosity, and willingness are enough. See what psychoeducation can do for you – even before a psychotherapist steps in.
How does psychoeducation work and what is it exactly?
It used to be reserved only for people in therapy. Today – thankfully – psychoeducation is available to anyone who wants to have more control over what's happening in their head (and in their heart too). And now for the most important part – despite its smart-sounding name, psychoeducation is not some boring collection of wisdom or another textbook. It's practical knowledge, thanks to which:
- you'll recognize, when something is wrong;
- you'll learn, when, how, and where to seek help – without shame or fear;
- you'll have at hand proven ways to cope with stress, tension, anxiety, or anger;
- you'll understand, where phobias, burnout, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) come from;
- you'll learn to talk about your emotions (openly and without tension).
Psychoeducation – who is it even for?
In one sentence? For everyone who lives, thinks, feels, and sometimes can't cope. Of course, for record-keeping purposes, we can specify a few groups:
- Children and youth – to know how to navigate relationships and emotions.
- Parents, teachers, caregivers – to better support children.
- Adults – to manage life before it manages us.
How does psychoeducation work and what will you learn from it?
Psychoeducation is your mental armor. Don't wait until a crisis overtakes you – it's better to be prepared. And no, it's not about not having problems. It's about knowing what to do with them when they do arise. Remember that:
- Depression is not just sadness, despondency, or a temporary bout of blues. It also has a biological basis, and you need to know about that. Sometimes pharmacotherapy may be necessary.
- Disorders can be well-masked. They can manifest as irritability, aggression, and outbursts of anger, but not only that.
- Professional burnout can be a problem for all of us. As many as 70% of adult Poles believe they are at risk of professional burnout.
It's worth being aware of this. Returning to the metaphor from the beginning of this article, psychoeducation will give you the tools to stay on course in calm waters, the strength to firmly grasp the helm during a storm, and the knowledge that dangerous waves will eventually pass, providing space for peaceful self-development and safe arrival at your destination.
So, strive to regularly expand your knowledge, think about your emotions and voice them aloud, and always react when you recognize even the smallest crises in yourself or your loved ones. And don't be afraid to ask for help.
This article was created in cooperation with Fundacja Nie Widać Po Mnie, which is Mobile Vikings' Partner in the 12th edition of Szalupy Ratunkowe. Why a mobile operator decided to fight depression, you can find out on the SzalupyRatunkowe.pl/drop-the-burden website.
Also check out:
- Stereotypical thinking about depression – fight it
- Masks of depression – how to recognize them
- Not every crisis is a disorder
- Where to seek help in a crisis?
Article substantively reviewed by experts from Fundacja Nie Widać Po Mnie.
