Unlock The Secret To A Better Mental Health

It is okay to struggle. What’s not okay is choosing to not get better.

In today’s world, mental health is promoted everywhere. Ads on big screens, in newspapers, in magazines, on the table of your dentist’s office.

What it lacks, though, is information. Information about what it is, why it’s important and how to take care of it. The popularity of promoting things to help get better is also rising. But does it really help? Think for yourself.

What It Is

We hear the phrase being used a couple of times a day. But do we know the meaning behind it? Quick research:

World Health Organization puts it this way: “Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in. Mental health is a basic human right.” Underline the last sentence here and read it again. - Mental health is a basic human right.

Normally, I would put in another reference from another site, but every site basically says the same: mental health refers to our emotional, physical and social well-being, influencing the way we act, feel, handle stress and make decisions. It also impacts how we relate to others.

Why It’s Important

So, the consequence is that it affects our relationships, work, and physical health - it affects a lot of aspects of our lives. When we abandon it, the risk of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions rises.

It’s also dynamic, which means that it can change over time, being influenced by events, environment, people, feelings, emotions and individual coping mechanisms.

The main reason why it’s so important is that by nurturing mental health we become more productive, are able to cope with stress better, foster healthy relationships and find our true potential.

What are people wired to do? Find their purpose. What happens when they don’t? Middle-age crisis, depression, procrastination and various other things. How can we prevent that from happening?

Nurturing Mental Health

By taking care of our minds. Just as we build a routine to maintain physical health, we should take time to build a routine to nurture our mental well-being. Here are some tips to keep you from becoming insane:

1. Exercise Regularly: Even though it’s mainly promoted as a way to take care of your body, physical activity releases endorphins and serotonin that act as natural mood boosters. Regular exercise also takes part in bettering your sleep quality and boosts memory, as well as thinking skills.

2. Balanced Diet: A diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables contains minerals and vitamins that your body needs to help you regulate your mood. Avoiding excessive alcohol or caffeine can also help prevent mood swings.

3. Sleep: Our body needs 7–9 hours of quality sleep each night. While we sleep, our brain is out there sorting information, putting it into different shelves of our skull, regulating our hormones, processing experiences and emotions.

4. Practice Mindfulness: Observing one’s thoughts and emotions, being aware of them in that moment. It leads to a more peaceful and balanced mind. A form of it would be Meditation. Meditation is proven to help in dealing with stress and getting to know yourself.

5. Social Connections: Having a supportive network of friends, family, or colleagues is essential for mental health, as it provides emotional support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging.

Society

When people are mentally well, they are more likely to contribute positively to their social networks. This means that it’s more likely they’ll positively engage with their colleagues, friends, family and even strangers. An empathetic, positive and productive workspace will be created if mental health is fostered.

If both the individual and societal levels of mental health are prioritised, we will create a more compassionate world. We do have accessible mental health services and policies that promote mental well-being, what the world lacks, though, is ongoing education and practises.

Conclusion

Mental health is crucial to our overall well-being. It affects the way we act, feel, handle stress, make decisions, how we relate to others, our relationships, work, and physical health. Its challenges can be and will be difficult, but with the right amount of practice, support and education, everything is possible. Maybe if everyone prioritised their mental health and chose to deal with their problems instead of cursing out therapy, the world would be a safer and happier place. But that’s just for fantasy book writers. The only thing you and I can fix, is You. My job here is done - I made you think. Now, it’s your time - start acting. What can start doing right now, to make yourself mentally better?

“There is no standard normal. Normal is subjective. There are seven billion versions of normal on this planet.”―Matt Haig.