Understanding Mental Health
What is Mental Health?
Mental Health is a state of well-being. Just like physical health, it is important to look after your mental health. Having a good state of mind is not just about surviving life. It is about enjoying every moment, having a purpose, and being able to manage the highs and lows. In contrast to being mentally fit, it is also possible to feel negative emotions. Different factors such as stress, fatigue, sadness, anger, and experiencing something difficult can contribute to a “bad,” state of mind. Everyone has feelings and emotions that fluctuate from time to time. Although this rollercoaster of emotions is common, it may not be the same for everyone. Some people experience more negative emotions than positive and vice versa. However, how you handle these situations can affect your mental health and being “stuck,” in the lows of your mind can lead to mental health concerns, such as mental health disorders/illness.
Mental Health Concerns
Mental illnesses can be described as disturbances in thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Some examples are anxiety, schizophrenia, and mood disorders. Individuals with mental health problems such as these may experience difficulty functioning as they normally do. Some people believe that mental health issues cannot be treated, but that is a common misconception. Most of these problems can be resolved by the help of doctors, psychologists, medicine, and different types of therapy.
See view a list of common mental health disorders and their signs and symptoms, please click here.
Taking Care of Your Mental Health
It is very important to take care of yourself and your mental wellbeing. Being in a negative state of mind will result in a negative state of life. If you want to get the most out of life, then making sure you are mentally fit is important. Some ways you can become mentally stronger is to talk about your feelings, stay active, eat well, stay connected with loved ones, reach out for help, take a break from your busy life, do things you enjoy, accept yourself for who you are, and care for others. All of these actions will help you see life in a positive light, as well as strengthen your mental health and physical health.