Mental health problems affect one in four people. Whether that is a general depression or anxiety, or more severe problems including borderline personality disorder, bipolar, or schizophrenia.
If you are one of the one in four people that experience mental health issues, then you will need to employ certain coping strategies to help you to take control of your mental health condition and your life.
But what can you do to help your mental health when you are struggling?
Let’s explore some of the ways that you can better manage your mental health.
Recognize That You Need To Prioritize Your Mental Health
One of the first things that you need to do when it comes to your mental health is to recognize that you need to prioritize your mental health.
Many people feel as though taking care of themselves or putting themselves first is selfish, however, this is simply not true.
Make some time to focus on you and what is important to you. This means relaxing and doing the things that you enjoy in life.
Identify Your Stressors
Identifying what causes your stress can help you to overcome your stressors. Once you know what brings you stress, it will be easier for you to avoid them in future.
Think about times when you have been stress, depressed, or anxious. Were there any particular incidents that led you to feel this way? Note them down. These are your stressors.
While it may not be possible to avoid all stressful situations in future, it may be possible for you to manage how you handle these situations.
Do Things That Bring You Joy
In addition to avoiding things that bring you down, you should also look at doing things that make you happy. Make a list of all of the things that bring you joy and try and incorporate these things into your life more.
For example, if you’re passionate about Taylor Swift’s music, why not treat yourself to a concert when she performs nearby? Don’t hesitate to secure those tickets and enjoy the experience to the fullest. Similarly, if you find relaxation and rejuvenation in a luxurious facial, take proactive steps to find a reputable spa nearby. Begin by searching for terms such as “facial near me in Huntington” (or elsewhere) online to explore the options available at various facial clinics. Once you find a suitable place, schedule yourself a pampering session. This experience can not only refresh your skin but can also uplift your overall well-being, allowing you to indulge in a moment of self-care and rejuvenation.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help
It is quite easy to feel ashamed of having a mental health problem. You may feel as though you just need to pull yourself together and that you shouldn’t bother other people with your problems because you are just wasting their time, or that you are going to bring them down.
Stop thinking this way. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Most times, when you do, you’ll find the support you need, whether it’s from friends, family, or a recovery coach. Keep in mind that reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness, and it’s the first step towards getting better.
Reach Out To Those You Are Close To
It is essential that you reach out to friends and family members when you need them. Identify someone that you think will be supportive and tell them about what is getting you down over a coffee.
They say that a problem shared is a problem halved. Unburdening yourself in this way really will help you. You may also find that you get some good advice from your friends and family members when you do speak to them.
Taking Therapy
One of the most helpful ways of managing mental health problems is through talking therapy. Speaking to a counselor or therapist will help you untangle many of the mental health challenges you may be experiencing. They are trained to assist you and may recommend various testing for borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia to pinpoint if these conditions could be contributing to your mental health concerns. This approach can customize the right treatment and therapy to fit your needs best.
Also, when you’re searching for a counselor or therapist, inquire about the range of issues they specialize in addressing. Some focus on specific mental health issues or employ particular types of treatment. It’s therefore important to make sure that they can meet your specific needs effectively.
Going through therapy can open up old emotional wounds. This can be very uncomfortable at times. However, there are many people who find this very helpful and will allow you to understand why you think, feel, and behave in a certain way.
Medication
One option which may be available to you will be medication. Speak with your doctor if you think that medication may be the right choice for you.
Mental health problems are often the result of an off-balance in your brain chemicals. By taking the right medication, you may be able to improve the balance and manage the symptoms of your mental illness.
Medication is not for everyone, and there may be side effects. Your doctor will be able to advise you on everything to do with medication.
Try Alternative Remedies
You could also try alternative remedies such as taking CBD Oil. CBD comes from the cannabis plant and provides you with a natural sense of relaxation. Unlike cannabis, CBD doesn’t have any of the psychoactive properties associated with the drug. Although in US states where cannabis is legal, some people do find that it can improve their mental health in small doses. You can even find spoon pipes online which you can use to take cannabis. However, the narcotic effect does mean that users shouldn’t drive while under its influence, whereas CBD products don’t have this effect. This means that there are no high CBD products and you can take them as you please. There is no issue taking CBD before driving or working with heavy machinery. If you don’t know where to look for CBD products, you could search for online dispensaries like muskegon dispensary or other similar ones from where you could source high-quality weed strains.
Limit Your Smartphone Use
Limit the amount of time you spend on your smartphone each day. There are two reasons that you should do this. Firstly, when you use a smartphone, you are receiving dopamine. This hormone is natural, however, when you are constantly chasing a dopamine high it can affect your mental health.
The second reason to cut down on your smartphone use is that phones emit blue light. This can affect your ability to sleep. For this reason, you should avoid using your phone for an hour or more before you go to bed at night.
Get A Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep is important when it comes to fighting stress, depression, and anxiety. You may struggle to get to sleep or to stay asleep. However, there are ways of improving the quality of your sleep.
In addition to avoiding smartphone use in the run up to your bedtime, you should also consider taking a bath or reading a book to help you to relax.
You could also try sprinkling lavender oil on your pillow to help to relax you into falling asleep.
Meditate
Meditation is a powerful tool that can be very useful for helping to deal with mixed up and jumbled thoughts. This kind of thinking can clutter your mind and make it difficult to focus on certain things.
By meditating, you will be able to clear your mind so that it feels less cluttered. Meditation helps you to think with much greater clarity.
There are several different types of meditation that are very popular. These include mindful meditation, transcendental meditation, and guided meditation, among others.
One of the most common forms is guided meditation. In this type of meditation, you’ll have someone speaking to you telling you what to think and do. By using this type of meditation, you’ll be led towards calmer thoughts.
In mindful meditation, the aims are to obtain a sense of presence. To not be bogged down in your thoughts. You can practice this type of meditation anywhere and at any time. This type of meditation does take some getting used to.
On the other hand, transcendental meditation takes a lot of practice. This type of meditation is useful for helping you to find a deep state of relaxation.
With any type of meditation, it may take time for you to get used to doing it. If you don’t get it the right the first time, don’t give up.
Use Mindfulness Techniques
The notion behind mindfulness is that you should feel completely present at any moment.
Mindfulness is designed to help you to reduce stress and anxiety, but it can also help you with your focus and concentration levels.
There are a number of different activities that come under the mindfulness umbrella. These could include carrying out tasks that require focus, such as puzzles, colouring, and meditation.
