Mental Health Matters

Mental Health is an open secret that should be handled with much more urgency in society. It’s an imposter that lurks in all age groups. Your mental well-being affects your overall health. Someone with depression is more prone to getting diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Mental illnesses stem from various factors such as feelings of isolation, experiences of trauma, abuse (ex: child abuse, sexual assault, a bystander of violence), medical conditions, use of a substance, and biological influences. It is very important to improve your mental health in order to feel, think and be the best version of yourself. 

Ways to Enhance your Mental Health

It is crucial to prioritize your time to heal and grow. In order to heal, you must also forgive the factors in your life that you’re burdened by. You must strive to reach the level of maturity that will set you free. Secondly, constructing a healthy daily routine can help build consistency and provide a positive impact. Start your day with something rejuvenating that you enjoy. If you’re unsure what that could be for you, experiment until you discover it. Perhaps you would like to make your bed to get into an organized mindset for the day. Maybe you would enjoy reading the news, saying your affirmations, practicing meditation/yoga, or drinking a cup of tea/coffee. These things start you off with a good note for the day and can give you the motivation to get out of bed and stimulate your productivity. Additional unwinders can include journaling your feelings with no filter(no sugar coating it), connecting with nature(hikes, walks), and talking to a trusted individual.

One Step at a Time

Goals can take a generous amount of time to reach especially when it comes to bettering your mindset. It’s never a phenomenon that occurs overnight. It’s not always about efficiency but about your effort and progress over time. Maintain patience throughout these times and you’ll notice the seeds you planted will gradually but firmly come to fruition. As Martin Luther King Jr. once expressed, “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” There will be days where you won’t meet your desired expectations. You don’t have to create a planned-out idea of yourself. Sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith and stay supporting that goal. 

Resources:

Mental health help hotline- SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

“SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.”