Mental health is the foundation for emotions, thinking, learning, resilience, and hope. It is also key to relationships, work, and contributing to society.
Emotional and mental disorders are a leading cause of disability worldwide. The good news is that with effective treatment (often a combination of medication and psychotherapy), people can recover and lead fulfilling lives. Visit Our Website for more information.
Having good mental health is important because it affects your ability to function at home, work, and school. It also impacts how well you can cope with stress and maintain healthy relationships.
If you’re experiencing changes in your thoughts, moods or behavior, it’s a sign that you may have a mental health disorder. If these symptoms persist, it’s important to get help. Fortunately, there are many treatments for mental illnesses.
Treatments include psychotherapy, which is a type of talk therapy, as well as medication. Medications are usually used to manage symptoms, and can be prescribed by a psychiatrist or psychologist. They can include antidepressants, mood stabilisers (such as lithium) and antipsychotics.
People with mental health disorders can live happy and productive lives with proper treatment. However, they need to be consistent with their treatment plan. This includes regularly attending therapy sessions and taking their medication as prescribed. It’s also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, get enough sleep and stay connected with family and friends. This will help you stay on track with your treatment plan and prevent relapses.
Get Enough Sleep
If you think about it, sleep is a very underrated part of our health. But, if you don’t get enough quality on a regular basis, your physical and mental health could be at risk. In addition to putting you at a higher risk for obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, sleep deprivation can also make you less productive at work, put you in a bad mood, and even increase the likelihood of being involved in a motor vehicle crash.
Most adults need between seven and nine hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. But, it’s important to remember that the amount of sleep required varies from person to person. It’s also important to establish a consistent sleeping pattern, including getting up at the same time on the weekends.
Exercise Regularly
Many people with mental health disorders are hesitant to exercise regularly. That’s often because they don’t know it’s one of the best and least expensive ways to manage depression, anxiety and other conditions. They’re also concerned about the stigma; the side effects of medication and talk therapy; and cost.
Regular exercise can boost mood, increase energy, lift the quality of sleep and improve mood by changing levels of chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, endorphins and stress hormones. It can help distract the mind from negative thoughts, occupy the body and even provide social interaction (especially in team sports or group exercise). It may also give people a sense of achievement as their fitness improves.
But, most importantly, it can change how people think about themselves and their life situations, helping to reduce negative feelings such as hopelessness, self-loathing, loneliness and guilt. People with mental illnesses have a higher risk of poor physical health, so doing everything they can to maintain good health is particularly important. Regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to do this.
Stay Connected with Family and Friends
The quality of your relationships can make a big difference in your mental health. Spending time with friends and family can boost your mood, improve communication skills and help you build healthy coping mechanisms. It’s important to nurture these connections by setting aside time for them, making sure your schedule is balanced and staying in touch with those closest to you.
Psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and some primary care providers offer talk therapy or “psychotherapy.” Treatment may include cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy or dialectical behavior therapy. These types of treatments are often combined with medications, which can be prescribed by your doctor.
Serious mental illness is a medical condition that affects your emotions, thinking and behavior. Despite common misconceptions, it is not a choice or a sign of weakness and you cannot “snap out of it” with willpower. Many people can live well with their symptoms by receiving treatment and taking an active role in their recovery.
Research shows that a combination of factors, including social learning, genetics and aspects of life experience like poverty or belonging to a marginalized group, contribute to mental health disorders. These factors can also influence how severe a person’s symptoms are and whether or not they need treatment.
Stay Positive
Positive thinking is an important aspect of mental health, but it’s also important to recognize that pessimistic thoughts can have a negative impact on your wellbeing. For instance, prolonged stress and negativity can trigger inflammation in the body and lead to a variety of serious diseases.
It’s vital to practice gratitude, find ways to relax and stay mindful, and surround yourself with a supportive network. It’s also beneficial to challenge negative thoughts and replace them with more helpful ones. One way to do this is to take a week and focus on your personal strengths, such as kindness, discipline, and creativity. People who do this report boosting their mood and happiness, and lowering their depression symptoms at the end of the week.
Sometimes mental health conditions are severe enough to require treatment at a hospital or residential program. With the right treatments and support, people with serious mental illnesses can reduce their symptoms and enjoy a high quality of life. In fact, studies show that with early identification and access to effective treatments and recovery supports, most people who live with mental illnesses experience a significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life. This is why it’s important to talk to your health care provider about any changes in your feelings, mood or behavior.
Take Care of Yourself
You may need to make some lifestyle changes to facilitate your mental health, such as reducing alcohol intake and sleeping more. You may also want to avoid certain things, such as violent movies and upsetting news. Getting seven to nine hours of sleep each night and turning off the phone before bed are good places to start.
Many people with mental illness are able to recover and live productive lives. They can get better with treatment and recovery supports, such as family therapy and group therapy. People can also get better with self-care, including exercise, a healthy diet and social connection.
Just like the advice we are given on airplanes – put your oxygen mask on before helping others – you can only care for others well if you are caring for yourself. This includes establishing a routine of self-care that brings you joy.
If you are concerned that you or a loved one has a mental health problem, talk to your doctor. There are no blood tests or brain scans that can prove if you have a mental illness, but your doctor will ask questions about your mood and behavior and can refer you for psychotherapy or medicines.
