It’s all in your mind – Tips for Good Mental Health
Your mental health should always be a priority. May is Mental Health Awareness Month a time when we turn our focus to ways, we can improve our mental and emotional well-being. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness annually and 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness yearly.
Knowing the warning signs and symptoms can help determine if someone is experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. It is important to pay attention to sudden changes.
Extreme mood changes
Not sleeping or sleeping too much
Prolonged depression
Excessive worrying
Paranoid behavior, delusions or hallucinations
Thinking or talking about suicide
Change in eating habits
Social withdrawal
Substance abuse
Excessive anger
Mental health disorders can affect anyone and we have to remove the stigma associated with mental health. There are different types of mental health disorders:
Anxiety
Trauma and PTSD
Panic
Sleep disorders
Phobias
Schizophrenia
Depression
Bipolar disorder
Personality
Eating disorders
When a person is experiencing any of these problems, they should seek professional medical help from their primary care physician, psychiatrist or phycologist.
Life happens to all of us. It can be filled with unexpected challenges of grief and loss, pain and suffering, divorce, loss of loved ones, finances, careers, pets, anything that brings sadness and leaves us feeling depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, unworthy, discouraged and not good enough. Our lives are busy, and, most of the time, we don’t stop long enough to assess our mental and emotional wellness. We just keep it moving until something stops us. Usually, it’s some type of health crisis, and then we come to a hard stop. What if you stopped now, before the crisis, before the you are at the end of your rope, before you are pulling your hair out, before you turn to drugs, or drinking too much, or shopping too much, or eating for comfort? Stop. Take a breath. Show yourself some compassion. There are things you can do to improve your mental and emotional health.It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Practice self-care. Set some time for yourself to do things you enjoy, like reading a book that doesn’t have anything to do with your work. Play, dance, garden, walk along the beach, or go to the park. What’s important is that you take some time away from your busy life to enjoy your life.
Exercise regularly. We all know the benefits of exercise. It doesn’t have to be in a gym. You can go for a walk, try yoga, stretch or run. Physical activity improves your mental health and reduces stress.
Seek social support. Having a support system of friends and family you trust who can provide emotional support can improve your mental health.
Get enough sleep. A lack of sleep negatively affects your overall health, try to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.
Eat healthy. Like sleep, a healthy diet has many benefits.
Seek professional help. There is no health without mental health. Contact a mental health professional and be open to the possibility that medication may be necessary.
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. If you are struggling, call or text 988, it is open 24/7. You are not alone. Help is available.