Life is challenging and filled with stress. Challenges, stresses, and difficulties exist for everyone from birth until death. Every person tries to deal with problems every day. But it is impossible to completely avoid experiencing occasional anxiety attacks when problems become more stressful. People are busy dealing with these problems and often neglect their mental health, which is alarming.
Only a few people are aware of how to cope with these problems and take action to fix them. Many put their mental health on the back burner when preoccupied with work, family, and other responsibilities. This can increase the risk of getting mental health issues (such as depression and anxiety). Mental health is equally important as much as physical health. Mental illness is also more common than you might think. One in eight people worldwide experience some type of mental health condition.
Mental health can also affect your relationships. People are ashamed, embarrassed or afraid to share mental health concerns. Mental illness is still a stigma in our society, and it makes people not seeking the help they need. Most people are unaware of how poor mental health can negatively impact ordinary life situations. For instance, people with depression or anxiety frequently have constant mood swings.
They are unable to relax and have a desire to avoid having fun. People going through depression and anxiety often feel alone, hopeless, and distressed and struggle to enjoy their lives. They may show behaviours like under-eating or emotional eating, social isolation, and drug and alcohol addiction. In serious cases, this will lead to thoughts of self-harm. It does not end here; poor mental health can cause physical health issues.
Physical health and mental health are closely connected. Chronic stress can reduce immunity and increase the risk of physical health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and heart attacks. Putting mental health on the back burner can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. People may use unhealthy coping mechanisms to dull their emotions, such as using drugs, drinking alcohol, or engaging in other activities that are high in dopamine. These behaviours can become destructive and lead to even more problems in the long term.
Various ways can improve your mental health. The first step is to be aware of your mental health, and if there are any issues, then talk about them with your healthcare provider. Do exercise, spend more time with family and friends, get professional advice, or find ways to manage stress. Meditating and engaging in meaningful work or hobbies are also great options. Taking care of your mental health benefits you and those around you(family and friends).
Continue reading this article to know how do you not put your mental health on the back burner? Make your mental health a priority today. Don’t wait until it is too late!
What Comprises Mental Health?
Mental health has become a buzzword, as much as self-care, in recent years. But understanding what it consists of is more essential as it affects a lot. Mental health refers to psychological well-being, emotional and cognitive state, and social functioning. It includes many parts of our lives, from relationships with others to what makes us feel complete and how we deal with life’s challenges.
Many things can affect mental health, such as physical well-being, self-esteem and self-worth. The way you find meaning and value in your life. Whether or not you have a mental health disorder like depression or anxiety. How you socialise with others and your psychological functioning is tied to memory and problem-solving.
Why Does Mental Health Matters Most?
Mental health issues symptoms are invisible to the world around you or even to yourself. They slowly aggravate inside and come to the surface when they become worse. So, it is essential to understand when you are feeling, your mental health is badly affected. Here are some reasons for taking care of your mental health benefits you.
It affects the physical health.
Many people think that mental health is separate from physical health, but the brain is part of your body. So, mental health is interlinked with physical health and mental health issues can cause many physical symptoms. People with depression, anxiety or other mental conditions can experience headaches, sleep disturbances, insomnia, gastric issues, muscle aches, fatigue, and heart palpitations or racing heart.
It affects your brain and cognitive function.
Have you ever noticed that you can’t seem to think clearly when you are depressed or anxious? This is because poor mental health can affect the way your brain works, similar to poor physical health can affect organs like your gut, liver, or heart. Mental health issues can affect cognitive functions, such as thinking, perception, reasoning, problem-solving, and memory. The person may be unable to concentrate, make decisions, learn and adapt to new information and experiences.
It can impact your relationships.
Mental health is a big part of socialising and reacting to others around us.
Good mental health can help you develop strong and meaningful relationships. This ties in with how we communicate and talk, establish and maintain healthy boundaries, and empathise with others.
It can help you build resilience.
Mental health can play a significant role in building resilience and how we react to tough times. A resilient person can easily handle challenges, setbacks, and life transitions. It can cope with any situation by maintaining balance and health.
It can impact your overall well-being.
A person has a lot of feelings which it expresses in different situations.
Learning how to manage them is a big part of mental health. We must balance sharing and acknowledging our emotions and not letting them take over our lives. It includes coping with difficult situations, managing stress, and maintaining a positive outlook in tough times.
It can help you maintain a positive self-image.
Once in a while, every person may feel down or low. Self-esteem and self-worth are a big factor in mental health. It portrays your image and generates your view in tough situations. Good mental health can help you recognise your strengths and limitations. It will improve your confidence and abilities and help you develop healthy self-esteem.
How Do You Improve Mental Health?
There is obviously no single cure-all button that can improve your mental health. Along with lifestyle changes, different therapies can help you feel better.
Lifestyle changes
Adopting healthy lifestyle practices can positively impact your mental health. It includes adequate sleep, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and
practising relaxation techniques like meditation or mindfulness to reduce stress.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is also known as counselling or talk therapy. It includes conversations between a trained mental health professional and an individual or group. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) are some of the different approaches used to address various mental health issues.
Support groups
Group therapy sessions or peer support groups can provide a platform to connect with others who have experienced similar mental health issues. These groups can help bring a sense of community and understanding and allow sharing of coping strategies with others.
Medication
If necessary, a psychiatrist or other qualified healthcare professional can prescribe medication to help manage symptoms of mental health issues. It may include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and mood stabilisers, which are the commonly prescribed medications.
Other therapies
In addition to medical treatment, complementary or integrative approaches to mental health treatment are also available. It includes specific yoga practices, acupuncture, art therapy or music therapy.
These can be used combined with traditional treatments and may provide additional support.
So, taking care of your mental health starts with checking in with yourself. If you see some changes in your behaviour or need assistance to get rid of stress or anxiety, find a local counselling group, therapist, or primary care provider near you. They can provide support and help you feel better. Before starting therapy, remember that your doctor’s office is a safe place to share your fears. You can benefit from it if you take mental health seriously.