Happy Healthy You: Mental

Happy Healthy You: Mental

 
Your mental health influences how you think, feel, and behave daily. It also affects your ability to cope with stress, overcome challenges, build relationships, and recover from life's setbacks and hardships. Vital mental health isn't just the absence of mental health problems. Instead, it's the presence of positive characters.
 
Tips for optimum mental wellness:
  • Make social connection a priority. No matter how much time you devote to improving your mental and emotional health, you will still need the company of others to feel and function at your best. Humans are social creatures with emotional needs for relationships and positive connections to others. We're not meant to survive, let alone thrive, in isolation. 
  • Stay active. It's as good for the brain as it is for the body. The mind and the body are intrinsically linked. You'll automatically experience greater mental and emotional well-being when you improve your physical health. Physical activity also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals that lift your mood and provide added energy.
  • Learn how to keep your stress levels in check. Stress takes a heavy toll on mental and emotional health, so it's essential to keep it under control. Sometimes, stress can't be avoided, but stress management strategies can help you bring things back into balance. Make leisure time a priority. Make time for contemplation and appreciation. 
  • Eat a brain-healthy diet to support mental health. An unhealthy diet can affect your brain and mood, disrupt sleep, sap energy, and weaken your immune system. Switching to a wholesome diet, low in sugar and rich in healthy fats, can give you more energy, improve your sleep and mood, and help you look and feel your best.
  • Don't skimp on sleep. Skipping even a few hours here and there can affect your mood, energy, mental sharpness, and ability to handle stress. And over the long term, chronic sleep loss can wreak havoc on your health and outlook.
  • Find purpose and meaning in life. Finding meaning and purpose is essential to brain health as it can help generate new cells and create new neural pathways. It can strengthen your immune system, alleviate pain, relieve stress, and motivate you to pursue steps to improve your mental health. However you derive meaning and purpose in life, it's essential to do it daily.
  • Don't be afraid to seek professional help. Suppose you've consistently improved your mental and emotional health and still aren't functioning optimally at home, work, or in your relationships. In that case, it may be time to seek professional help.
 
Resources: 
 
Happy Healthy You! Understanding Anxiety:

Happy Healthy You! Understanding Depression: 

Happy Healthy You! PTSD:

 
 

Article Reference:

Robinson, Lawrence, Jeanne Segal, Ph.D., Robert Segal, M.A., and Melinda Smith, M.A. (2020, October). Building Better Mental Health, Help Guide. Retrieved on 2021, May 17 from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/building-better-mental-health.htm