We have often heard people say that mental health is important and that it should be valued. But do we know what it means and why we should have good mental health? Or do we just use it because it sounds cool? Yes, it is important to have good mental health but how can an individual with all kinds of stress and work pressure balance it? Let’s find out.
Mental Health
Before we try to explore how we can improve our mental health let’s understand the true meaning behind it. Mental health is a general state of well-being of our mind, and it must always be looked after. It comprises emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The mental state helps us understand how we think, feel, and behave with other people. It also helps us manage stress and strikes a balance in our tasks. Mental health can affect our day-to-day activities, relationships, and physical health.
Can mental health affect physical health?
Yes, both mental and physical health go hand in hand. Mental health such as depression, or anxiety can trigger many health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, or heart disease. Similarly, when you are affected by a chronic disease it can keep you under constant worry leading to compromised mental health.
What affects mental health?
You cannot always point the finger at a single cause. There are times when multiple factors can trigger bad mental health or there are sometimes when one single cause can affect one’s mental health. A few factors that one should be on a look out for are as follows:
Experiencing trauma, sexual assault, violence, abuse, etc can act as a trigger for bad mental health.
· Chemical imbalances in the brain can cause bad mental health.
The use of alcohol or drugs can cause bad mental health.
Feeling lonely or isolated can cause bad mental health.
Experiences related to medical conditions can trigger bad mental health.
What can I do to improve my mental health?
One of the easiest ways to achieve improvement in mental health is to focus on self. It is okay to be a little selfish at times. Only if you are well, you can care for and help other people.
Here are a few tips you can use to improve your mental health:
Sweat regularly through exercise, and keep yourself active.
Talk to friends and family regularly and reach out to them without hesitating and wondering what they would think of you when you feel lonely.
Maintain a to-do list and try to achieve your goals. Please make sure that you don’t set targets that are difficult to achieve, start with small targets and grow eventually.
Try meditation, and explore new activities.
· Consider having a hobby that gives you joy and relaxation. Do it often so that it helps you focus on yourself.
Make sure you eat right at the right period.
Focus on yourself, spend some time alone and try to understand what activities you enjoy doing.
How do I know if it is working?
If you notice the following it means what you are doing is working and your mental health is getting better:
You have started accomplishing the goals and targets that you had set
You have started sleeping better and don’t feel tired and exhausted all the time
Your appetite is back, and you enjoy eating.
You don’t seek validation from others and have started considering that your opinion about self matters the most.
There are no sudden emotional outbursts.
You will also notice that you have started prioritizing yourself over others and know what is right and wrong for you. You start to set healthy boundaries with others.
Don't hold back if you know what can be done and what to expect. Make sure you start working on your mental health today. Share your experience in the comments section. Have a good day folks!
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