Emotional Literacy for Better Mental Health | Shahana Alibhai | TEDxAbbotsford

[@sophiawalters6908]

Anything that helps teach people about self-awareness and self-regulation should be encouraged.

[@makiweshter]

Shahana is an angel. Not many are willing to do this hard work

[@thejanicej]

I wish there had been more discussion around this when I was growing up, and education around how to express your emotions healthily.

[@cliftonwilliams7489]

This sounds so wonderful Shahana and a really great way of building relationships between our youth

[@dennisboystop9442]

Yes, please!! I so badly wish I had learnt about these stuff while I was growing up and not in my mid twenties after so much damage had already been done

[@kiankaskert7925]

I like the idea that it's possible to learn how to regulate our emotions.

[@fallenstar3188]

Congratulations on your honesty and vulnerability. As someone once said, "the truth will set you free".

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

Thank you so much - that is exactly how this felt for me

[@iamsamfemia]

thanks for sharing with me

[@TheJazHong]

Learning to identify your feelings is HUGE! Especially if you were raised in an environment where that kind of thing isn't generally encouraged, makes it so hard to just recognize and understand what you're dealing with

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

Absolutely couldn’t agree more

[@kiankaskert7925]

so true...

[@aaronereid]

Absolutely, or raised with that old school 'men don't show their feelings' mentality

[@orlageary5104]

What an eye opening talk Shahana. I had never considered food as an escape, a punishment or a painkiller on reflection I can see how this is true for me too.

[@tibogoth]

Wow I really hope this takes off. It's such a sad statistic at the 9:36 mark, I think this would really help change that

[@bridgettemsanders]

Listening to your inner voice is the take away message for me.

[@lucastanard]

How gratifying to hear that young people who have experienced adversity are showing empathy and want to help others.

[@edolieshars]

After listening to Shahana who makes so much sense, I've decided to make peace with food and look for what good it brings to my health.

[@katiaromanow]

Training provides knowledge, it doesn't mean you know what to do in a real situation. Reality is a truth teller and I appreciate her honesty.

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

Thank you so much that means a lot

[@steeveleibold531]

This is huge. So needed. Our boys and young men in particular are struggling so much. Let's teach them how to do this, and that it's okay.

[@iamlaylathomas]

This is an awesome concept that this can be learnt/taught the same as everything else

[@forsaken-lover9508]

It took me intensive therapy to be able to even identify my emotions - who knew we had that many we could feel in a day! Understanding is the first step! Thank you Shahana.

[@eric-tran]

This has been super helpful for me in terms of considering why some people are able to 'get me' and some people are not. Thank you.

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

Thank you so much that means a lot ❤

[@pierrevilleneu]

Honestly I was in my late twenties before I even started to hear phrases like "emotional intelligence" or "emotional literacy" there is still so much educating to be done

[@aaronereid]

This is so needed right now, our young men in particular are in total crisis concerning their mental health

[@alice-jayne]

I can't stress enough how important this stuff is right now. I have conversations with a lot of men in their early 20's and they are so, so messed up emotionally. The mental gymnastics they have to do to convince themselves that going to the gym and playing video games is enough to sustain their happiness and mental health is just insane.

[@wittylove7215]

This is amazing. I was so drawn by the title and I'm really glad it's about exactly what I wanted it to be.

[@kurstank1953]

This is so enlightening for me. Being a doctor doesn't mean you understand a patients challenges, and then when you experience it, it makes all the difference.

[@bagostan1898]

Thanks for sharing your story with such honesty and integrity.

[@lisa-lio]

Okay I haven't watched the whole talk yet but from the title I got this wonderful scenario playing out in my mind like, teaching children from primary school about how to recognise/identify an emotion, that not everyone expresses it in the same way etc, how to respect those feelings in others and I just.... like how beautiful would that be??

[@garydusing3123]

My peers and I were parented by post WWII people and were taught to touqhen up and get on with the job regardless of your state of mind. Safe to say our emotional literacy can only improve from there.

[@alecbaen]

It sounds like Shahana is taking a very proactive approach dealing with these kids. Wish I'd had that kind of guidance when I was young

[@luisasanchez5532]

Self awareness and listening to your inner voice or inner knowing will guide you where you need to go.

[@tarasuppleton]

thanks for sending to me!

[@karakims8239]

This talk has so much depth, at just 1:20 in we already have huge insight into the journey this women has been through and it makes it so easy to want to listen and relate

[@daphnefish]

Oooft those questions around the 4:20 mark definitely touched on something tender

[@MarcoPolo-uh4pn]

I legit just found Daniel's book Emotional Intelligence in my garage the other day.... Thank you for the reminder that I am to read it! You're really onto it here Shahana! Thank you!!

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

So glad to hear that!

[@1martinarose1]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was also space within this for the parents to learn this stuff as well?

[@carlyberstani]

Many of us view anxiety as a "weakness" but it takes strength to stand in our truth and ask for help.

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

Thank you so much that means a lot

[@graciasandlove]

It's pretty obvious to me how beneficial it would be to understand and manage our emotional state but unfortunately there are still people out there who would prefer to just shut themselves down to avoid hurt instead trying to understand and grow.

[@therealmariorossi]

I was lucky enough to get some mental health support when I was a teen, but it was unfortunately kind of ineffective- this approach sounds a lot better.

[@kotakgmasuk]

Will definitely be sharing this one, it's so frustrating and upsetting the amount of people - mostly men - who are just struggling so badly to process even the most basic emotional upsets. The way this translates into women having to do emotional work for them is also upsetting, and only damages a relationship in the long term.

[@addisonpassini]

Listening is a skill, a discipline and a mantra for the mind. This aligns with prayer, give it to God, let it go, meditation and nature. Listening to your internal dialogue helps to un-condition your conditioning.

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

So well said

[@trustfactornow]

I used to struggle with negative self-talk a lot, but now I just silence it before it has a chance to even start. I don't even make self deprecating jokes anymore!

[@maureenbrown7065]

In this talk I have realised why older generations get resentful of younger generations - its because as we see the younger ones having access to these types of support that we did not, we cannot help but wonder what difference it would have made. A big difference I assume, and that's why we need to start pushing these types of practices for future generatons.

[@rachealbrasner4237]

yeah, I understand where it comes from but it does frustrate me that so many don't understand that it's better that younger generations get those supports than nobody at all

[@johncatholic2819]

Parenting can be challenging at the best of times and the baby blues as some call it are very real. Often hidden in plain sight. Only those who have experienced it can truly understand how they felt out of control by the means of thinking they've got it sorted. It took my partner a very long time to be able to recognise the symptoms instead of blaming herself.

[@thedaveallan]

Thanks John, sending this to Laura you legend

[@sandralewandowski]

I can only see benefits for this happening but I feel there would be a lot of room to mess it up as well. Hopefully the teachers being tasked with this are also taught about emotional literacy

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

Such an excellent point thanks for sharing

[@lannydaslin]

This talk is brilliant, I love how all this stuff about integrated medicine is starting to be discussed.

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

Thank you so much, really appreciate your kind words

[@ceterisparibus8966]

What is integrated medicine?

[@bobertgenn]

I can't imagine what it must be like as new mother, going from being a pregnant woman, spending the better part of a year preparing and being seen as this special miracle for growing another human and then after the fact... you've served your purpose. It's all about the baby now. Not hard to understand how PND happens.

[@diegofashiondesign]

I think society as a whole would function better if we all sought to increase our emotional literacy.

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

Couldn’t agree more

[@berdinaguest]

Unfortunately some people feel things so strongly that it can be very overwhelming and scary. This can actually be kind of dangerous, particularly for young people who haven't been taught how to identify those feelings or how to manage them.

[@realminipowers]

Can't say I'd be quoting Tony Robbins when it comes to mental health and my brain. Happiness is a construct, something that people tend to search for. Seek peace and find joy even when you don't feel joyful. The brain is the control centre, runs like an automated program, run, walk, talk etc. The thinking mind on the other hand will create stories, make meaning, based on thoughts and experiences. Leaving the control centre to its own devices makes you think you need to act, behave, be whatever program it lasts remembers. That's knowledge. It can get stuck and keep you looping. Your heart on the other hand, let's say its the life pumper, the circulator of oxygen. Reduce oxygen to the body and the brain and then you start to feel the stress throughout your whole being. Of course I'm not a doctor, I have experience with baby blues, high stress and a brain that wouldn't shut up. That organ always needs a reboot, a refresh and rewire. Let your heart do the living and watch out for the fear monger repeating old programming.

[@viviantan4351]

I love your easy-to-digest information!

[@clintbroadway4913]

I’m always amazed

[@DrBrianHarman]

Loved this talk Shahana!! Great job!

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

Thanks so much!

[@1luckylepine]

It's interesting to think about emotions in this way, like that some people just have a higher emotional literacy, in the same way that people just "get" mathematics or language...

[@ceterisparibus8966]

Or fashion design or sports...

[@Notthefootykevinrooney]

What a different world it would be if EQ was a subject at school.

[@piamirra]

I found it really interesting when she talked about how her pride held her back from being honest about what she was feeling, and that she saw it as a weakness, even though she's a family doctor and she would probably have seen that in countless other women? Glad she was finally able to be honest with herself but man what does that say about her emotional attitude towards her patients who would have been dealing with that? Or does it say more about how hard she was on herself, that she only saw it as a weakness when she had it?

[@parlyperdot]

Soft skills are so important and I can't help but wonder what our future is like if we don't get a handle on our EQ

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

So true

[@haikes]

Much of our EQ is formed when we're young and don't have the skills to understand what's happening.

[@mystic.10]

This will always be difficult because different people experience their emotions at different levels of intensity, and I don't know that changing this is something that could be taught?

[@wendyrocha8331]

"my world, although rewarding, became small." I swear I've heard this exact thing said by other new mothers. It's kind of sad to think about

[@my-own-boss]

Please share this talk with your circle of influence. They will thank you for it.

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

Thank you so much, that means a lot

[@therightway8115]

As the Bible says "Physicians heal thyself". Appropriate in Shahana's case.

[@1henrythomas]

I had no idea 50% of mental health issues start at 14. The pressure of puberty is enormous so it's not surprising.

[@avajayden1729]

Emotional literacy is crucial for mental health and wellbeing!!! It's so lame that learning about it isn't encouraged in school or anywhere else really, you just have to seek it out for yourself and a lot of the time for people who are already depressed it's just another task they don't have the energy for

[@dustinprichards]

I wish I had found advice like this when I was younger instead of just developing a druq habit as a coping mechanism 😅

[@donthegiese]

"how do you handle negative feedback?" - by deciding it was entirely my fault and I just need to become perfect and then it won't be an issue anymore. coincidentally, I may not have a very high EQ...

[@nihalsonker7838]

Lovefeel

[@SwittyKiwi]

Wow a fantastic presentation, Shahana. 👌👏😉 You made a good point on several key items in the ongoing debate about youth and mental health, some of which we also covered on the S'witty Kiwi Show. When children and adolescents are suffering from mental illness, behavioral health concerns, or substance abuse issues, the treatment they receive to overcome these problems must be introduced in a manner that is different than how it is addressed with adults. Education and scholastic achievement is essential to youth development and, as a result, should not be ignored as children and adolescents enter into treatment to address their psychological, emotional, and/or behavioral concerns. Additionally, the therapeutic interventions that are used when treating children and adolescents must meet them where they are at developmentally. - Team S’witty🙏

[@jhonmaliq6404]

We're taught to read and write. Why aren't we taught to understand and navigate our emotions?

[@jennick4311]

The burden on our mental health programs would be considerably less if children were taught emotional literacy alongside their usual subjects.

[@that_gyy]

So sad that Shahana suffered from post natal depression for over a year before she realised it.....and she's a doctor.

[@moneymaker324]

Even the 1/5 number quoted near the beginning sounds low. Almost everyone I know suffers from mental illness on some level.

[@maddoxreynolds]

Why does the conversation about mental health still carry such stigma? So frustrating

[@iamsamfemia]

A doctor and she didn't connect the dots that she had PND. That's so sad.

[@girlontopoftheworld]

I know it's such a small part of the talk but when she said, "...then my eldest son Sean was born and my world, although rewarding, became small." - it struck such a huge chord with me, and she became instantly relatable 💙

[@dr.shahana-feelbetter]

This means so much to me, thanks for sharing

[@girlontopoftheworld]

@@dr.shahana-feelbetter thank you for doing this talk!