> [!infobox]
<s class="aside-in"><em>mentioned in 18 evergreens</em></s>
#### [[Sometimes we can't grow until we change our environment]]
Sometimes we don't know what is hurting us until we cut it off, and we can't gain perspective until we take a step back.
[[Mental health is a reaction to one's environment]], so
it can be valuable to change your environment, because you might not know what is bringing you down:
[[Your anxiety knows your insecurities better than you do]]
[[Our ego is our subconscious defense of our self]] so your [[anxiety]] and [[depression]] may just be your brain's way of dealing with your situation.
^[[[Our brain will do anything it can to protect itself]]]
You may be around people who negatively impact your [[mental health]].
Especially if you are finding yourself constantly making excuses for other people,
getting away from that environment may help you look at things objectively:
[[Rationalizations are defense-mechanisms against strong emotions]]
[[Deconstructing your faith is like climbing through a jungle canopy]] reflects on this concept of stepping back to gain [[objectivity]] in relation to [[Deconstruction (Christianity)]].
If there isn't anything in your physical environment, it could be your mental environment.
There may be [[self-repression|repressed]] [[trauma]] or just strong childhood emotions that is bringing you down
^[[[Our brain actively inhibits us from processing repressed emotions]]]
[[It's always worth it to work through trauma]],
but it can involve of a lot of very difficult situations and feelings because
[[Working through trauma can involve of a lot of letting go]].
### <hr class="footnote"/>
**Status**:: #EVER/GREEN
*edited 7:35 AM - July 08, 2022*
**Topics**:: [[mental health]], [[self]], [[trauma]], [[self-improvement]], [[self-actualization]]