Mental Health Meaning
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects the way we think, feel and act. It also helps to determine how we deal with stress, treat others and make choices. It is important to pay attention to our Mental health at every stage our life, from childhood to adulthood.
Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, it can affect your thinking, mood and behavior.
Signs There Urgent Need to Take Care of Your Mental Health
Not sure if you or someone you know lives with mental health problems?
Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be signs that there is urgent need to take care of your Mental Health:
- Eating or sleeping too much or too little
- Keeping away from people and ordinary activities
- The presence of a low energy level or its absence
- Feeling deprived of responsiveness or as if nothing matters
- The presence of unexplained pains and hurt
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
- Smoking, drinking alcohol or drugs more than usual
- Feeling of unusual confusion, forgetfulness, irritation, anger, frustration, anxiety or fear
- Shouting or quarreling with family and friends
- You experience strong mood swings that cause problems in relationships
- Having constant thoughts and memories that you can’t get out of your head
- Hearing voices or believing something that is not true
- Thoughts about harming yourself or others
- Inability to perform everyday tasks, such as taking care of your children, driving to work or school
Top 10 Practical Ways to take Care of Your Mental Health
It is important to take care of yourself and get the most out of life. Below are 10 practical ways to take care of your mental health.
Making simple changes to the way you live shouldn’t cost a fortune or take a lot of time. Anyone can follow this advice. Why not start today?
- Eat well
To stay healthy and function well, our brain needs a mixture of nutrients, just like other organs in your body. If a diet is good for your physical health, it is also good for your mental health.
- Drink wisely
We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with their fears or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary.
When the effect of the drink ends, you feel worse because of how alcohol has affected your brain and the rest of your body. Drinking is not the best way to cope with difficult feelings.
- Talk about your Feelings
Talking about your feelings can help you maintain good mental health and cope with times when you feel anxious.
- Stay active
Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you focus, get enough sleep and feel better. Exercise supports the health of the brain and other vital organs, and is also a significant benefit for improving your mental health.
- Keep in touch
There is nothing better than meeting someone face to face, but this is not always possible. You can also call them, leave them a note, or chat with them online instead. Keep the communication lines open: this is good for you!
- Ask for help
None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or depressed by how we feel, or when something doesn’t go according to plan.
If you feel uncomfortable and you feel that you can’t cope, ask for help. Your family or friends can offer practical help or listen to you.
Local services are ready to help you.
- Take care of others
Caring for other people is often an important part of maintaining good relationship with people close to you. This may even bring people closer to each other.
“Friends are really important… We help each other when we can, so it’s a two-way street, and supporting them makes me feel better.”
- Take a break
A change of scenery or pace is good for your mental health.
This can be a five-minute break after cleaning in the kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work or a weekend when you are exploring something new. A few minutes may be enough to relieve your stress. Give yourself some “my time”.
- Do what you are good at
What do you like to do? In what classes can you lose yourself? What did you like to do in the past?
Enjoying yourself can help you cope with stress. An activity that you like probably means that you are well versed in it, and achieving something increases your self-esteem
- Accept yourself as you are
We are all different. It is much more useful to recognize that you are unique than to wish that you were more like someone else. Feeling good increases your self-confidence, allows you to master new skills, visit new places and make new friends. Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.
What can harm your mental health?
Many factors contribute to the emergence of mental health problems
Negative circumstances of life can put people at risk of developing mental illness. Situations that can affect mental health, including:
- Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
- Life experience, such as trauma or abuse
- Family history of mental health problems
- Living in lack or poverty
- Family conflict or violence
- Neglect in early childhood
- Have parents with substance abuse problems
To improve your mental health, you need to always treat yourself with dignity and respect, and avoid self-criticism.
It is also good to find time for your hobbies and find ways to broaden your horizons.
Learning how to cope with unfavourable circumstances can also help the overall wellbeing of the mind.