World Mental Health Day, 8 Ways to Cope!
How are you doing? Have the events of the past two years had an impact on your mental health? As it did in 2020, the world continues to suffer from mental health issues brought on by Covid-19 and its various variants. The headlines still read similarly with twists, and some days are better than others depending on who you ask and what part of the world you reside. Sunday, October 10th, is World Mental Health Day! Take some time to do something to improve your mental health or at least keep it sane during these challenging times.
What is Mental Health?
Most people are aware of physical and spiritual health is, but not many know nor understand mental health and how it can affect daily life. According to mentalhealth.gov, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health affects thoughts, mindset, and the ability to cope with various situations that life throws. For example, these past two years have caused many to experience breakdowns due to complete isolation or loneliness. They were in environments with which they were unfamiliar or never experienced before and did not know how to function. Though things have gotten a little better at points this year, all this Covid-19 talk and its variants have caused massive anxiety and stress. Balanced mental health is the ability to cope with everyday stresses with no problems; however, not balancing life’s stressors can cause one to go into a funk with feelings of not knowing where to turn and what to do.
Negative Emotions
Negative emotions can hamper curiosity, cognitive agility, creative and strategic thinking, even the ability to memorize and learn something new. Therefore, it is best to operate at the highest positive level possible most days to avoid negative emotions and mindsets.
Positive Emotions
Positive emotions are known to improve overall health. It also can improve attention span, open-mindedness, creativity, and ability to reach strategic perspective easily.
8 ways to protect your mental health
1. Be mindful of who occupies your space and time.
a. If you have a co-worker who irks you, work with them enough to get assignments done, but you are not required to build a friendship, and that is O.K. no matter what anyone says.
b. Understand that your time is short, yet viable spend as much of it as possible with those you love and those who love you. If they are not for you, they do not need to take up your time; especially outside of work.
2. Be mindful of the environments you are in
a. If you find yourself in an environment that may not be conducive to your betterment, consider finding new places to spend your time.
3. Meditate
a. Meditation, whether online or in-person, can improve mental health. Being in a group setting is preferable and beneficial for optimum mental health. Accountability and help are imperative when you are going through a tough time.
4. Commit to taking some mental health time every day.
a. 10 minutes a day will be beneficial to your health.
5. Get Physically Active
a. Go for a walk, jog, or run (Go a little longer and further today)
b. Dance, play a sport, start a mini-workout group or join one.
c. Sex with mate
6. Journal
a. Write down how you feel. How others make you feel, and environments you enjoy being in. Take note of things that make you happy throughout the day. There is power in writing down the experiences you have encountered. In addition, it is beneficial in helping in manifestation.
b, Write a book on what you are going through for your eyes only at first.
7. Eliminate or Minimize the News
a. The news is often negative. Yes, it is good to know what is going on in the community and around the world. If everywhere you turn, there is something negative happening that is not good for the psyche. Consider reading the news it is easier to manage vs. watching. Never, ever watch the news before bed. News or negative stories may lead to nightmares or an uncomfortable sleeping experience.
8. Talk & Release
a. Expressing feelings is beneficial in the healing process. Get stuff off the chest is helpful. Find someone you trust to talk to. Honestly express how you have been feeling and how you are currently feeling. Repression only makes things worst.
b. If you are O.K., but no someone who may be going through something. See if you can lend an ear or find a professional to help them.
If you need someone to talk to Contact:
Disaster Distress Helpline (call/text) or email.
800-985-5990 or DisasterDistress.samhsa.gov
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline,
1-800-273-TALK (8255) or Live Online Chat
You are not alone. Help is everywhere, you just need to ask for it.
Reference:
What Is Mental Health? | MentalHealth.gov