Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
Our mental health, like our physical health, is something that takes work and consistency. It is also something that can easily decline without the proper strategies in place. The bad thing is that mental health can be overlooked due to the natural chaos of life. Stress, family and money issues can take precedence over self-care and wellness. Unfortunately, these are the things that cause it to go down in the first place. Always consult your health care provider if you feel you are slipping into a bad place. Here are some simple ways to support your mental health.
Support Your Mental Health #1: Ask for Help
Asking for help before you go to a dark place is recommended. I do know that it’s easier said than done, though. Feeling off emotionally can affect the way you relate to others. This might result in the desire to isolate yourself. Asking for help doesn’t mean you have to go to therapy or a doctor. It could be as simple as confiding in a trusted loved one about your feelings or concerns.
The key thing is that you seek out some kind of help if you’re struggling. Don’t let pride, or insecurity, put you in an even worse situation than you currently are. There are resources out there that can help you move forward in a positive manner. Or, you may not even be the one hurting. So, it could mean researching information, such as that designed to save a life with the help of Relias Academy.
Support Your Mental Health #2: Focus on Physical Health Too
It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of getting enough sleep, exercising and eating right when it comes to mental health. Sleep scientists have long known that a lack of restorative sleep is connected with all forms of mental illness, including depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. There seems to be a direct correlation between longer, and higher quality sleep, and positive mood.
Diet, too, can be a major piece of the puzzle when it comes to balancing your mood. Some people experience depression as a result of food allergies, such as undiagnosed celiac disease. Others find that conditions like anxiety are dramatically exacerbated by the use of caffeine and other stimulants.
Support Your Mental Health #3: Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Some research suggests that the prevalence of social media in the modern world has led to an increase in depression and other mental health conditions. This is especially true with those who spend more time there. For that matter, screen time alone can affect your mood and neurological health. This, in turn, affects your mental health.
It’s been tentatively suggested that a serious part of the problem here lies in the fact that social media encourages us to constantly compare ourselves to others. This causes insecurity when we inevitably feel we don’t measure up to the images our friends put up on social media to create the best possible impressions of their lives.
To counteract this, focus on being who you are and not comparing yourself to others. If you’re a better person than you were yesterday, in some essential way, then you’re on the right track.
Support Your Mental Health #4: Respect Yourself and Others
Many people try to cope with their troubles by numbing themselves through hedonistic pursuits that are often incompatible with their ultimate values. This may provide short-term relief, but in the long run, it often results in losing more self-respect.
One of the best things you can do for your mental health and wellbeing is to live in a way that boosts your self-respect and confidence rather than in a way that diminishes it. To some extent, this means different things to different people. But to get it right involves being aware of how your actions affect your life and others. Always keep the question in mind, “If I do this, will I like myself more, or will I like myself less?”
**** This post is strictly informational and is not meant to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Women’s lifelink, it’s owners, administrators, contributors, affiliates, vendors, authors and editors do not claim that this information will diagnose, treat, or improve any condition or disease.
