How to Manage Mental Health

What is mental health and what does it mean?

Well, it is what you think and feel, and how that affects your life. Does that sound too simple to you? Well, minus the vocab and fancy words, that is really what it is. There are certain intricate features to this notion, however. For example, your mental health is going to impact your actions and daily routine; it is most certainly going to determine the level of your positivity or in some cases, negativity. To understand and take care of the state of our mind, we must also understand at least a bit of how it reached that point.

Your psychological well-being is going to depend on:

• Self-awareness;

What you think and feel about yourself.

• Quality of relationships:

Your interaction with family, friends, and colleagues.

• Social interaction:

Whether or not you feel comfortable with the people surrounding you in your life.

• Management of feelings:

Do you have what it takes to manage an array of emotions?

• Problem tackling abilities:

Can you deal with problems on your own?

These constructive attributes are what determine your participation in this thing called life with an active and productive approach.

As an individual with an insight into themselves and what is going to make them function in an optimum way, you  will have the following characteristics:

• A sense of satisfaction in what you do.
• Vision to aim and succeed.
• Passion and enthusiasm for life and new things.
• The aptitude to handle stress and pressure.
• Flexibility to learn and try new things.
• The ability to maintain an adequate balance between work and personal space.
• The ability to maintain positive relationships.
• Self-belief and trust in your own capabilities.

It is important to note that good mental health is not going to a constant. There will be ups and downs, disappointments, and defeats because these elements are a part and parcel of life that shapes an individual to be resilient. It is a well-known idea that people who are resilient when it comes to handling sensitivities are generally able to do so because of their positive outlook despite hurdles.

Take charge and boost your mental health!

The ongoing problem in any society is that that sharing our mental health problems is a taboo. It really cannot be because health is health at the end of the day, be it physical or mental. They are both going to affect the functioning of any human. We keep telling ourselves that it is absolutely fine and this is just a phase. Either that or we feel humiliated for harboring such negative thoughts. Well, even if it is a phase, your mental state is in jumbles and there is no harm in trying to find peace. Nobody is going to judge you, and if they are, so be it! It really should not matter, because you come first! Here are some tips you could follow to start that process of self-indulgence in order to get rid of that depression, anxiety or any other illness gnawing away at your mental peace:

• Maintain social connection:

Do not let go of your friends, family or even acquaintances. Make an effort to stay up to date about them and keep them updated about you. That way you will always have somebody to listen to your feelings as and when you are comfortable enough to share them.

• Maintain yourself and stay active:

No matter how down in the dumps you feel, get up, go for it and don’t give up. You need to keep that body and mind going even if you don’t want to because mental peace will come back around at some point. There must be no room for lethargy.

• Find your meaning and purpose:

This is the most important element of aiming for and maintaining good mental health. Once your ambition and wants in life are determined, they give you a purpose to live and get back up whenever you feel that you have fallen. At times, when you are at your most vulnerable state, your vision for the meaning of life may get blurred. Just don’t let go. Fight for your aspirations even though it may seem as the most difficult thing right now.

• Quality Sleep:

Yes, that’s right; Early to bed, early to rise, makes you healthy, wealthy, and wise! This piece of wisdom is a gem. You need sleep for your brain to repair your body, mind, and soul. It is as simple as that; you must sleep for at least 7 hours in the night; and while you do that your body repairs your skin cells and organs so that you wake up replenished.

• Superfoods for the brain:

How many times have we heard our mothers and teachers tell us, you are what you eat! And we are because if we eat clean, fresh, and healthy food, we will feel exactly that; whereas, if we eat greasy, old, and artificially enhanced food, our mood will reflect just that. Increase the intake of these brain foods:

-Whole grains for energy.

-Nuts and seeds for Vitamin E which aids in brain cognition.

-Pomegranate juice for the antioxidants.

-Freshly brewed tea which promotes healthy blood flow to the brain.

-Turmeric for stimulation of neurogenesis (growing of brain cells)

-Avocados for Vitamin K and Potassium.

-Green leafy vegetables, i.e. spinach because they impede the aging of the brain.

-Blueberries usually protect the brain from stress.

It is easier said than done, that is for sure. However, trying out just some of these ideas may encourage you to try the rest of them out because once you see that you are on the way to get back up, you will want to keep going. Having said that, professional help is always available and there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Yes, you can manage everything on your own. However, if you ever need help, don’t think too much, just ask a near and dear one that you need to confide and if you can’t do that, go see a therapist. They really are quite friendly, I assure you!