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Are You Living a Healthy Mental Life?

Are You Living a Healthy Mental Life?

By FarhatPublished 2 years ago 6 min read
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Are You Living a Healthy Mental Life?
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

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Your mental health has an incredible effect on your overall well-being, and it’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. According to the World Health Organization, our well-being involves not only the absence of disease or infirmity but also a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in a safe environment. To live in this state of well-being, however, you must have good mental health.

Check for mental health issues

Mental health is integral to your overall health, and it’s vital that you check in with your mental well-being on a regular basis. It’s not always easy to spot mental health issues—they can pop up slowly over time or suddenly appear out of nowhere—but there are warning signs that, if addressed quickly, could mean the difference between living healthy and dealing with serious problems for years. These red flags include sudden mood swings, repeated anxiety attacks or suicidal thoughts and feeling like life isn’t worth living. If you experience any of these symptoms, visit your doctor as soon as possible for an evaluation. Your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional who will be able to treat any underlying issues and help manage symptoms so they don’t continue in their current form (and hopefully don’t return).

Know the symptoms

Whether you are suffering from mood swings, stress, anxiety or depression, there are warning signs to look out for. If you see these symptoms in yourself or loved ones, it is important to get help right away as certain mental health conditions can lead to self-harm and suicide. It is important that you keep yourself informed about mental health issues so that when they strike someone close to you they are treated before they spiral out of control. The following outlines some common warning signs of a mental health disorder . Keep in mind that not everyone will experience every symptom, however if you have experienced several then it’s recommended that you visit your doctor or mental health professional immediately.

Don’t ignore depression symptoms

Depression is one of many types of mental illness that can have a massive impact on your life. If you experience recurring feelings of sadness, loss, or hopelessness for two weeks or more, it’s possible that you’re experiencing depression. It can be easy to ignore your own depression symptoms, especially if you don’t have a disorder that runs in your family—but if left untreated, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. If you suspect that you may be depressed, talk to your doctor about treatment options. Treatment doesn’t have to come from prescription drugs; often therapy, support groups, and lifestyle changes are enough to combat depressive symptoms.

Mental illness can make anyone anxious

your loved ones, your colleagues and even those who haven’t yet been diagnosed with anything. When you find yourself struggling with feelings of worry or sadness that just won’t go away, it might be time to reach out for help. Here are some warning signs that might indicate you need to speak to someone about your mental health: 1. Feeling depressed or anxious on most days 2. Thinking about suicide 3. Experiencing changes in eating patterns 4. Lack of sleep 5. Withdrawing from family and friends 6. Loss of interest in activities that used to bring you joy 7. Difficulty concentrating 8. Irritability 9. Self-harm 10. Constantly worrying 11. Difficulty making decisions 12. Feelings of guilt 13. Staying home more often than usual 14. Thoughts racing 15. Restlessness 16. Physical aches 17 .Frequent physical pain 18 .Significant weight loss 19 .Preoccupation with death 20 .Loss of sexual desire 21 .Thoughts about taking drugs or drinking alcohol If you’re experiencing any issues that cause ongoing stress and disruption in your life, it may be time to get some professional support before things get worse.

Try holistic treatments first

Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, or some other mental health issue, holistic treatments can be an effective way to manage symptoms. Before turning to drugs and talk therapy, try these practices first—they might help you avoid over-medicating and even solve your problem altogether. Here are five common ailments that many people choose to treat naturally before they seek professional help:1. How To Reduce Stress Naturally Living in today’s fast-paced society can sometimes cause stress and distress. Everyone feels stressed out at one point or another in his life. When it comes to day-to-day stressors like traffic jams, noisy neighbors, tight deadlines at work, etc., most of us cope effectively by reading a book, eating our favorite meal while watching television shows we enjoy... but sometimes even those stress relievers don’t help as much as we want them to.

Remind yourself that anxuiety is temporary

In order to live a healthy mental life, you have to remember that anxiety is temporary. Anxiety and stress can flare up at any moment in your life, whether it’s from an encounter with your boss or an argument with your significant other. Just remind yourself that although these situations can be uncomfortable now, they are not permanent. Eventually they will pass, and there is light at the end of every tunnel. This is not to say that everything in life has a happy ending; it’s just important to realize when anxieties eventually fade away, which they do for everyone. It just may take some time.

When do seek help from a doctor

If you’re concerned about your mental health, it’s important to talk to your doctor. The key is reaching out for help when you feel at risk or distressed. Don’t wait if you are worried about your mental health, or if you think others may be at risk because of what you might do. Most people with depression or anxiety disorders will not consider suicide, but some may try to hurt themselves without meaning to end their lives.

Listening to music has helped me

As you’re probably well aware, music can lift your mood and serve as an effective stress reliever. But did you know that it may also help improve your health in other ways? In fact, in addition to its mental health benefits, listening to music may even have physical and psychological benefits for your body. See below to learn more about some of music’s potential benefits when it comes to improving your mental and physical health.

Get plenty of sleep

It can be easy to justify staying up late to finish that big project, but getting less than seven hours of sleep each night can take a toll on your physical and mental health. Studies show that sleeping less than six hours can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as depression. On average, adults between ages 18 and 64 should get seven to nine hours of sleep per night; older adults need about eight.

Watch out for alcohol and caffeine

Research has shown that even one or two drinks in excess, over time, can have negative effects on your mental health. Excessive caffeine intake has also been linked to symptoms of anxiety and depression. Other substances to watch out for include recreational drugs (including alcohol), which are often used by people suffering from mental illness and should be avoided entirely if you’re trying to be healthy mentally.1-2 And if you do suffer from any kind of mental illness—even mild conditions like anxiety, ADHD, or depression—be sure to consult a doctor before starting any new supplement routine. The same goes for prescription medication; don’t just stop taking it cold turkey without first talking with your prescribing physician.

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