Why Your Brain Sabotages Your Mental Health and How to Take Back Control

You’ve probably heard some version of the quote, “The mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy.” Whether it’s from Kabira or Barbara Carrellas, the truth behind this idea resonates deeply for anyone who has struggled with mental health. So why does it happen? Why is it that even when we know what’s good for us and what we could do to improve our mental state, we often fail to act on it, falling into the same habits and routines over and over again?

Why We Fall Into Old Habits? The answer lies in the way our brains are wired – they are deeply drawn to comfort and security. We love our routines and habits because they give us the feeling of being safe. Over millions of years, our brains have evolved to seek security and prioritize survival. Even now, in the modern world, where stress rarely comes from life-threatening situations, we’re still crave our comfort zone and cling to familiar routines. These habits make us feel safe – even when they don’t serve our well-being. Think about it: even with all the research-backed advice on improving mental health – prioritizing sleep, eating healthily, exercising, or spending time outdoors – we still often choose short-term comfort instead. Depression and anxiety make us suffer tremendously day after day, and yet the first thing we want to do when confronted with these feelings is turn to unhealthy food, cover under a warm blanket and spend the day indoors, indulge in endless screen time, or overwork ourselves to numb our feelings. Not even are we not helping ourselves, but we are also digging deeper into desperation. It’s completely illogical, but this is precisely the tricky part! This is another way the evolution of our brains is failing us.

The Brain’s Role: Emotions vs. Logic

A key part of this struggle lies in the amygdala, the brain's emotional processing center. When the amygdala is activated by intense emotions like sadness, stress, or fear, the logical and rational part of the brain (responsible for rational decisions like going for a walk or eating healthily) is being overpowered and takes a backseat. As a result, we fall victims of our emotions, which is why it feels so difficult to break free from destructive emotional cycles. So what should we do? Should we fight our emotions? Should we suppress them? The only problem is that it’s impossible to do so! Research shows that suppressing emotions often backfires can have severe consequences for both our physical and mental health. So the key isn’t suppression, rather it lays in our ability to manage those emotions and channel them constructively.

How to Channel Emotions Productively?

Learning to navigate our emotions is our best act towards building healthier stress responses, we could later turn into habits. For example, feeling angry is a great energy fuel for any exercise and sport activities. Next time you’re in a fight with a close one, go for a run, to the gym, or why not even try boxing to release tension. Another great example could be some of the best and most beloved art pieces, created in a state of deep sadness or depression. So next time you’re feeling down, try to channel sadness creatively – write your thoughts down in a journal, paint or play some instrument - it’s a great way to process emotions. If you’re feeling overwhelmed – make a “to do” list. Breaking down tasks into manageable steps can help bring clarity and focus. Experiment to find which practice best suits your personality and your lifestyle, try until you find a productive way to channel those emotions and stop the cycle of falling a victim to them. Stick with smaller tasks that you enjoy in the beginning to build a strong ground for forming a new healthy habit and grow from there with time. Building Healthier Habits Change takes time, and there will always be days when staying motivated feels like an uphill battle. On those days, be kind to yourself. Progress isn’t about perfection – it’s about persistence. Choose yourself some mantra like “I’m doing this for myself because I deserve to feel better.”, or find another affirmation that resonates with you and use it whenever you’re feeling down. Remember, your brain can be your greatest ally when you learn to work with it rather than against it.