Are you taking care of your mental health? Did you know that by the time you turn 40, you have a 50% chance to encounter a mental health issue? Over 19% of the U.S. population dealt with a mental health issue in 2018 – and that number may continue to rise.
Research has shown that are more likely to accept as true if they’re said to have physical illness than mental illness. People, including doctors, tend to ignore their mental wellbeing for several reasons.
Some think that it’s impertinent and useless, others fail to realize the severity of being mentally unhealthy because mental illnesses are intangible. It can we as petty as anger issues or as severe as anxiety and depression, and people may still fail to understand or might confuse those with personality traits. Why do we think that self-care is only physical and overlook our mental health? Why do we do it to ourselves?
Studies say that almost 5% of the adult population – 44 million people – face some mental health issue. In the United States, over 46% of adults face mental health issues once in their lifetime. People fail to acknowledge that mental health is just as crucial as any sort of well-being, be it your body, relationships, and career.
You can never overlook your mental health and anticipate a peaceful life. It’s time that you focused a little more on how to improve your mental health for both yourself and the sake of those around you.
Step 1- Introspection
First, you need to self-introspect. Identify the good and the toxic bits. The only way you can solve your problems is by knowing what they are. You need to be patient enough with and kind to yourself to improve your mental health.
The underlying cause can be anything, from childhood trauma to the fear of rejection, to family problems, or insecurities. It can only either get better for you, or worse. And you are the person who can save yourself from it all– just by being there for yourself and a little more understanding.
Step 2- Self-care is Important
Make self-care a routine practice. Just reading a nice book, or meditating for ten minutes or just taking a nap works wonders in lifting your mood and de-stressing. If you wish to you can schedule your weekly self-care hours and take a moment to disconnect from the world and connect with yourself.
Your self-care session can involve a bubble bath with essential oils and Epsom salt, listening to some music, reading your favorite book or watching a movie. Whatever helps you feel better and at ease.
Step 3- Take Care of The Body
Wait, wasn’t this all about mental health? What has the body got to do with it? Well, as per facts what it’s all interrelated. If your mind is going through some stress or pressure, it’ll be evident in your physical health, and vice versa. So, the things that you do to your body affect your mind a great deal.
For instance, eating your favorite chocolate-coated results in uplifting your mood, which is a psychological result of physical activity. There are ample activities which, if included in your daily routine, can improve your mental health and assure mental well-being.
- Physical Movement: Regular engagement in some sort of physical activity not only helps maintain a physique and stay healthy but also helps you stay stress-free, now that you put all of your stress into something fruitful. It is also proven that working out gives an individual a sense of confidence, resulting in lower levels of anxiety. Exercise is also good for the libido helps you perform better in bed.
- The Golden Sleep: We all have witnessed the power of a good night’s sleep. Sleep is the cure of all of your agony. Not just physical benefits, but sleep helps you stay calm and maintain your mental well-being. It helps you stay at peace, your body to function well and maintain healthy relationships.
Step 4- Look to Improve Communication
Being a social animal, one needs to have close relationships and daily communication. To be mentally healthy, one must engage in socialization because isolating yourself from the world is an indicator of mental illness and leads to further depression. Studies say that people who are extroverts and social tend to be more mentally healthy than those who like to be by themselves at all times.
One must know that having people to confide in not just improves their mental health, but also helps them prevent mental illnesses at an early stage. Understand the power of communication and use it. Spend time with your loved ones and peers.
Step 5 – Acceptance
Lastly, you must accept yourself the way you are, for the sake of your mental well-being. Take care of yourself, because you are all you got. You need to be as gentle towards yourself and your body just as you might be with a friend who is going through a hard time in understanding themselves.
Looking to improve your mental health? Taking one step at a time might just help you do it!
