Mental States Illustration
Chaos, rigidity, and safety states of mental wellbeing
Mental Health Literacy
Updated on July 3, 2025
The state of how we may feel inside can be compared to paddling a boat on a river.
🟡 Drift too far to one side, and you hit chaos: reactive and anxious
🔴 Too far to the other, rigidity: numb and shutdown
🟢 When we are in the middle, safety: flexible and grounded
- Siegel, D. J. (2010). Mindsight: The new science of personal transformation. Bantam Books.
Each of the three states can serve a purpose, but it's important not to stay stuck if it doesn't fit the moment. We may not always fully control which state we land in, but how we respond can still make a big difference. Sometimes we might need a bit of help, and that's okay too.