Mental health is as important for you as the blood in your body. Without mental strength, you will not perform any type of routine work in an effective way. With the rapid increase in work burden and stress mental issues are increasing in recent times as compared to the past. That’s why now people are finding ways to get information about the improvement of their mental health. This comprehensive article is all about. Here we will provide you with an expert view and resources on mental health that will definitely help you live a happier and balanced life full of confidence. Let’s get started.
What is Mental Health?
When we talk about mental health it means our emotions, psychological and social health. It actually affects your overall performance of the body like how you think, feel and act. What is your capability to handle stress and how you make decisions in your daily routine life in different matters? It is very important to be mentally strong whether it is your childhood or you are living an adult life.
Common Mental Health Issues
Here in this section of the article we are going to discuss in a detailed way what the common issues of mental health are. Let’s have a look.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are one of the common mental health conditions. There are different types of anxiety disorders including panic disorder, particular phobias and social anxiety disorder. Now the important thing to understand here is the symptoms of these above mentioned complications. Anxiety can be different from minor to severe. There is also one of the big reasons in these types of anxiety disorders is your daily routine life.
Depressive Disorders
There are actually two common types of depressive disorders. First is major depressive disorder MDD and second is persistent depressive disorder (Dysthymia). There are some common symptoms in the case of the depressive disorders. A person feels a persistent sadness, loses interest in any type of activity. The appetite starts to reduce and the sleep pattern actually disturbs as compared to before in normal situations.
Bipolar Disorder
In bipolar disorder a patient feels some serious ups and down in the mood. The patient reacts emotionally high in case of mania or hypomania and sometimes reacts low and depressive due to depression. These symptoms are collectively known as bipolar disorder.
Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
These conditions affect the ability of a person to think positively and meaningfully. This type of disorder in the body results in a reduction in the ability to make decisions and interaction with other people. Now it depends on the health of that person how severe the symptoms are.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
In this type of condition a person feels unwanted thoughts and does the same activities repeatedly. When this happens a patient must go to a professional Healthcare provider in order to diagnose and tackle the condition in a comprehensive way.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder actually occurs at that time when a person witnesses any traumatic incident. So the common symptoms in this condition can be complex anxiety, night terrors and recall of that particular incident.
Understanding on Mental Health
Here in this part of the article we will talk about deeply about the understanding of your mental health. It means what you have to do when you see issues in your mental health. So without any further delay let’s talk about it.
The Importance of Early Treatment
It is really crucial to understand the importance of early treatment. A Clinical psychologist doctor Jane Smith says that early intervention is key in managing mental health issues. The chances of recovery increases when you go for a treatment at the initial stage. So for this purpose it is very important to understand and identify the initial root causes of Mental Health Issues.
Comprehensive Approach
Mental health actually demands a comprehensive approach for its treatment. According to doctor Michael Johnson who is a psychiatrist mental health is not just the absence of mental condition. Actually it is a state of Mental Health where you can analyze your potential, the ability to deal with normal stress in life and work productivity, and how you contribute to your community.
The Role of Therapy and Medication
Sometimes it becomes important to treat mental health issues with the use of therapy and medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT is mostly used in case of severe depression and anxiety. Besides that, you can also take medicines like antidepressants and anti anxiety drugs to reduce and manage symptoms more effectively. This type of medication is very effective at that time when it is used in combination with therapy.
Lifestyle Changes
You can make your mental health better by changing your lifetime. One of the renowned nutritionists Laura Green describes the lifestyle changes for mental health in such a way. She says that you can improve your mental health by taking regular exercise. You should keep your diet in a balanced way, make sure that you are sleeping perfectly and with the use of stress management you can get maximum results in this whole picture. Let’s talk about the resources where you can improve your mental health. Let’s get started.
Online Resources
There are some online resources for you in case of Mental Health issues. Let’s find out.
National Institute of Mental Health NIMH
You can visit the National Institute of Mental Health website because it provides complete information on various mental health conditions, their symptoms and treatment options.
Mental Health America MHA
You can also visit mental health America online because here you can find resources related to mental health like educational material, support groups and mental health screenplays.
BetterHelp
BetterHelp is an online therapy platform where you can find professional licensed therapists. Just go to their website and get all the information that you require.
Support Groups
You can join support groups to get emotional and physical guidance related to mental health. Support groups are actually online groups that feel like a community. They are for sharing their experiences in the same issue that anyone is facing. Some of the most reliable support groups are as follows.
National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI
You can just go to the NAMI website and find your local support groups about mental health.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance DBSA
This platform is very beneficial for those people who have depression and bipolar disorders. Here in this platform you can find peer led support groups for your beloved ones. Now the question is what peer led groups are? Peer led groups are those groups that provide you programs or services related to the mental health challenges.
Hotlines and Crisis Services
You can get urgent support in the time of crisis by contacting hotlines and crisis centers. There are important services that you can use for example National suicide prevention lifeline, Crisis text line, and SAMHSA’s National helpline.
Affective Strategies
Awareness and Consideration
Awareness and consideration are basically one of the important tools in order to manage stress and anxiety in an effective way.
MBSR
You can use MBSR (mindfulness reduction) technique for managing pain, stress and disease. Medical study clearly shows that this technique is really very helpful in reducing symptoms especially in case of anxiety and depression.
Apps for Mindfulness and Meditation
You can use certain apps for consideration and awareness for mental health. Some renowned apps such as Headspace and Calm actually help to provide you guidance in case of meditations and mindfulness exercises. These exercises can be done at any time and anywhere.
Physical Activity
Taking exercise on a daily basis is really very important and helps to keep your body fit and prevent diseases. Exercise plays a vital role to improve mental health by reducing anxiety and depression from your life. There are some exercises that you can go for. Let’s have a look.
Aerobic Exercise
By taking aerobic exercises like running and swimming the hormone known as endorphins is released which makes your mood happier.
Yoga and Tai Chi
If you want to take benefits as a combination then you can take exercises such as yoga and Tai Chi. This type of exercise makes your body relaxed and reduces stress which is very important for a healthy mind.
Healthy Eating
Healthy diet means a healthy mind. It is really crucial to consume a balanced diet full of nutrients that is important for the brain to perform its functions efficiently.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Certain types of fats are very important for brain health such as Omega 3 fatty acids. These types of fats are available in rich form in fish, walnuts and flaxseeds. Omega 3 fatty acids are very helpful to reduce symptoms which are related to mental health, especially depression.
Antioxidants
It is crucial to reduce oxidative stress which has a direct linkage to your mental health. There are certain foods which are rich in antioxidants. You can take nuts, berries and leafy Greens in your diet plan in order to reduce stress.
Sleeping Hygiene
If you want better mental health then it is crucial that you have a good sleeping atmosphere. Lack of sleep or less sleep can be the reason for depression and anxiety.
Consistent Sleeping Schedule
It is better to make a consistent sleeping schedule. If you go to bed and wake up at the same time then this schedule actually gives you more positive results in improving mental health. By doing this you actually send a message to your body to regulate functions.
Sleeping Environment
The atmosphere of your sleeping is really important. Make sure that your bedroom is quiet, cool and dark. Before going to bed it is important to quit screening because the blue lights can disturb your sleeping.
Stress Management Techniques
With the help of effective management techniques you can reduce the impact of negativity from your mental health. There are some ways that you have to keep in mind.
Deep Breathing Exercises
It is very important to relax your nervous system and you can do this by taking deep breathing exercises. There are certain techniques like diaphragmatic breathing. This will help you to reduce stress and make you mentally strong.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation technique is another way to lower the risk of physical tension and anxiety. In this way of exercise, find a suitable position to perform this exercise. Close your eyes and start taking deep breathing for a few seconds after that tense and relax your muscle group.
Social Connections
For a healthy brain it is very important to build strong relationships with your friends and family and others who have the same issues. For this purpose, try to participate in social activities regularly. This social engagement can be in a group, your hobby or volunteering.
Seeking Professional Help
If anyone suffers from some mental issues then it is very important to get professional guidance straight away. You can visit some specialized professionals in the field of mental health like psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists.
Finding the Right Therapist
For effective treatment and guidance it is very important that you consult the right therapist. You can take guidance from your friends and family in this context. There are different therapies that are used for different options in case of Mental Health. Examples are psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. There are different approaches for all these treatment options. Only a professional Healthcare provider can tell you what the best way according to your challenges is.
Preparing For Therapy
It is important to prepare yourself for the best possible therapy. You can set goals. What you are looking for from therapy that you are choosing? It is important to tell you all the issues to your therapist. It is really crucial for your comprehensive treatment.
Conclusion
Mental strength is really critical for your overall health condition. If someone is facing some mental health issues then there is no need to panic. You can improve by following some steps. First of all, try to understand what the common mental health issues are, and secondly, find comprehensive information related to them. With the help of available resources you can take effective steps towards the betterment of Mental Health. There are a lot of strategies that are really effective towards your journey of a healthier mind and happier life.