Mental health cannot be categorized or defined in one set of meanings. We often define mental health as how we react in different situations, how we feel in moments, and how well we handle the situations and coping mechanisms in our daily lives.
Being in good mental health doesn’t mean we are always happy and calm, unaffected by any situation.
The understanding of mental health involves a person’s emotional, psychological, and mental well-being. It affects how a person reacts to situations, manages feelings, and navigates daily life.
A person might have good mental well-being, but that does not mean that he does not have a mental health problem.
A person might have been living with a mental health problem, but has good well-being at the moment, and vice versa.
Poor mental health means difficulty in maintaining daily life challenges and relations.
Mental Health Challenges
Mental health challenges vary in their severity and frequency from person to person.
It makes it difficult to immediately determine whether a person’s feelings are situational or happen consistently.
It is important to remember that situational mental health issues do not need to be serious enough to seek professional support, and all feelings are valid.
Mental health professionals determine the seriousness of an issue by its impact on a person’s daily life and the circumstances after it. These challenges are often less persistent and disruptive. In contrast, serious mental health challenges can severely impair relationships, work, or school performance.
For example, the stress before an exam is normal, but if anxiety is so severe that it causes someone to skip the exam.
It indicates a disturbance to routine life and potentially negative consequences, which makes it more concerning.
In the same way, anxiety leading to physical symptoms or panic attacks is a reason to seek support.
While sadness or grief after a loss of a loved one, anger after a breakup, or anxiety about a new job are normal. They can become serious if they negatively impact daily life.
Read More: How To Be Happy Again After A Difficult Time?
Warning Signs of Serious Mental Health Challenges
- Mood Changes:
- Feeling sad or down for a longer time than normal without a specific reason. If the situation happens after the loss of a loved one, it can be justified, but no longer than six months.
- Noticeable mood swings, from extreme euphoria (joy and happiness) to anhedonia (loss of interest in life, sadness, and depression).
- Constantly worry about a stressful event or incident in the future.
- Feeling empty or indifferent about various factors of life, an emotionless state of being.
- Outbursts in anger, hostility, or violence.
- Difficulty in understanding others’ thoughts, feelings, or a lack of empathy.
Behavioral Changes
- Excessive anger
- Suicidal thoughts
- Self-injury
- Isolation
- Experiencing large gaps in memory
- Withdrawing from all the social circles, family, and activities that were once enjoyed.
- Experiencing delusions and beliefs in things that are not real, schizophrenia.
- Experiencing hallucinations like hearing voices that are not real or feeling the presence of someone imaginary.
- Intrusive thoughts that are not real.
Physical Changes
- Sudden sweating, nausea, increased heart rate, and troubled breathing alongside worry and fear.
- Disturbed sleeping patterns, including sleeping too much or too little.
- Fatigued even after a healthy sleep.
- Noticeable changes in eating behaviors, such as restricting eating, eating too much (binge eating). Besides that, fearing food without any reason, or having body image issues related to weight or eating.
Self-Care Tips For Mental Health Recovery
There are different ways to improve mental health. It can be social, through physical activities, and learning new skills.
Social connections
Strong social bonds are one of the things to do to improve mental health. They are necessary for happiness and the overall health of a person. Good relationships create a sense of belonging, boost self-worth, and deliver important emotional support. This is the core of a person’s mental well-being, along with physical and emotional self.
Why Does Social Connection Matter In Mental Health?
Strong relationships lead to greater life satisfaction. Positive social connections can lower stress and reduce the risk of depression. Good relations also help physical health. A satisfied and balanced life gives a person a sense of belonging and purpose.
Read More: Social Media and Mental Health’s Dangerous Link
How To Connect With People!
- You can take simple steps to build and keep a stronger relationship.
- Spend time with your loved ones.
- Share your feelings and thoughts with them.
- Engage with people directly and talk with them. Have lunch or dinner with a colleague or visit a friend who needs company.
- Offer emotional support, celebrate their successes, and help during tough times.
- Join social groups. go to parties and cultural events, clubs, and other activities. This can relieve stress and prevent you from feeling isolated.
Side Effects Of Disconnection And Antisocial Behavior
A lack of social connection, such as loneliness, can pose a serious health risk. It can increase the mortality rate, which is equal to smoking and not exercising. Loneliness is also linked to a higher risk of heart disease and strokes. It can also lead to a higher rate of anxiety and depression.
Some people can cope with mental issues by being in isolation. Others can withdraw because they fear the stigma of mental illness. The use of screen time management is also important as it frees up time for more meaningful social connections.
Physical Activities For Mental Health
Regular physical activity is a great way to improve mental health. It helps your mind and body, as it is heard, a sound body has a sound mind. Exercise acts as a powerful tool to reduce stress, improve your mood, and build healthy lifestyle habits.
How Physical Activity Helps Your Mind
Being active can have a significant positive impact on your mind. Here’s how:
- Physical activities and exercise cause different changes in your brain that make you feel good. It gives you a sense of purpose and boosts your self-esteem.
- Mental health activities are one of the best ways to relieve stress. When you move your body, it releases hormones that reduce feelings of stress and anger. Regular exercise can help you manage stress before it becomes too much.
- Exercise can help you sleep better by reducing anxiety and relieving stress. Proper sleep is very important for your mental health.
Mental Health Tips for Getting More Active.
You don’t have to spend hours in a gym to get the benefits of physical activity. The key is to find activities you enjoy and make them a regular part of your life.
Find things that you love the most. You can find activities that are fun for you. This could be anything from running to dancing to gardening and singing. There are many activities you can do, such as walking, cycling, and joining a sports team. Even short activities like walking around or dancing in the kitchen can be helpful.
Think about your schedule. If you want to exercise to improve your sleep, it is generally better to do it earlier in the day.
Read More: Mental Health Continuum
Make it a habit because when you do so, it contributes to a healthy lifestyle that supports your mental well-being.
With the use of the above mental wellness tips and practices, people can experience increased happiness, reduced stress, optimism, and enhanced resilience to face the challenges and adversity more successfully. Strong social connections are also associated with reducing stress levels, symptoms of depression, and improved overall physical health.
How Can We Help?
Suppose you or someone dear to you experiences one or more mental disorders and is having trouble managing emotional and behavioral symptoms for more than two weeks. In that case, it is necessary to reach out to a mental health professional for support.
Inland Empire Behavioral Group is here to help you in every step of your mental well-being. We have professional psychiatrists and therapists for general issues to severe mental conditions. You can contact us for support and book an appointment.
