Improving Your Mental Health

Before I dive into the juicy part of this piece, cheapest discount there are a few things that we need to acknowledge and that is the issue we are experiencing in regards to our mental health nationally; we don’t look after our own very well. To put this into perspective, 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.

To introduce myself, my name is Misha and I’m a mental health therapist, based in London. I’m going to shed some light on how to improve your mental health; whether you worrying about a job, recently experienced a break-up or want to treat yourself with more kindness.

So, what is mental health and/or emotional wellbeing?

It describes the state of how you are feeling and how well you can cope with day-to-day life. As you can imagine, this is dynamic and can change at any time, which is why it’s important to take care of it.  Mental health problems i.e. depression and anxiety are more likely to develop when we have experienced low emotional wellbeing over a long period of time. So, we have to learn how to manage our emotional wellbeing; regardless of its state.

So, spill the tea; what do I need to do?

Have a sit down and think

Think about what may be affecting your mental health. The truth is, we are all different and are not affected by the same things. But, one thing we do have in common is that we all get overwhelmed, tired, upset or stressed.

Never feel guilty for taking time out for yourself.

You’re entitled to it. Although this can be difficult, due to life’s various demands; it is a gift to yourself that is priceless. One way to tackle this is to avoid over scheduling and set regular periods of “me time” during the week.

Do something you enjoy or learn something new.

Whatever it is that makes you smile, laugh or keeps you motivated, make it a priority.

Exercise – don’t be afraid to start off with something small.

Physical and mental health are closely linked. When you exercise, your body releases Endorphins (chemicals that interact with your brain) which lead to a reduction in stress and anxiety, improved sleep and improved self-esteem.

Keep a mood diary.

Writing down how you are feeling helps you to identify what is impacting your mental health positively or negatively. This will also help you to spot any early warning signs that you may be feeling low or anxious. Here’s a link for a one available online http://moodpanda.com/

Learn how to quiet your mind.

Research has shown that Mindfulness, meditation and incorporating religious practices such as prayer into our day to day life can improve our ability to cope with stress.

Build positive relationships.

Make an effort to spend time with people who treat you with respect and care. Also, try to remain in contact, regardless of your mood. There is no one in existence that is happy all the time; so no, you are not a burden or a negative Nancy.

Write a list of what you like about yourself.

Aim to continuously add to this list and don’t feel bad about it either! This helps us to reduce self-critical thinking that is often negative and can lead to low self-esteem.

Priorities your sleep.

Poor sleep is often connected to our emotional wellbeing. Try to establish a set bedtime routine, avoid napping during the day and explore possible solutions to those things that are impacting your sleep at night.

Ask for help.

If you are aware that you are finding things difficult, don’t put pressure on yourself to “carry on as normal”. You can talk to your GP about available treatment options and support in your local area.

If you have any questions about your mental health and/or your emotional wellbeing, please feel free to message me anonymously on the following link: http://ask.fm/Ask_meesh

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognise, accept, and celebrate those differences.”

Written by Misha Matovu

The post Improving Your Mental Health appeared first on LAPP..