10 Things You Can Do for Your Mental Health Right Now

Why Mental Health Matters

Mental health is just as important as your physical health. Several health disorders are actually linked to stress such as high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic pain, anxiety and depression. Poor mental health can also affect your relationships, work or school productivity, and overall well being. When dealing with negative situations or episodes in our lives, it is important to check in with your psychological well being and to take care of yourself, so these moments of stress do not impact you as harshly. Mental health disorders require professional, medical help through therapy and medications, however improving your mental health through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes gives you a fighting chance. Here are some ways you can boost your mental health:

10 Tips to Boost Your Mental Health

1. Meditation. During meditation, you can feel a deep state of relaxation and tranquil mind while eliminating the stream of jumbled thoughts that can be causing stress and anxiety which improve emotional health.
2. Deep Breathing Exercise. When we take deep breaths, it signals our brain to calm down and relax, while eliciting other positive feelings.
3. Spend Time in Nature. When you take time go outside, you can feel connected to nature which can lower symptoms of anxiety and depression
4. Eat Healthy. Proper nutrition is important for overall well being. Vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are the basic building blocks for all those feel good chemicals like serotonin your brain needs to function properly and elicit positive feelings.
5. Exercise. Not only can exercise improve your physical health and release tension, it also helps release endorphins that can relieve anxiety and depression.
6. Have More Social Interaction. When you spend time with a friend or family member, you can feel connected to others and boost your overall psychological well being.
7. Get Plenty of Sleep. There is a close connection between sleep and mental health. You need at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night to feel rested. Reduced sleep has been linked with a higher rate of depression.
8. Perform Random Acts of Kindness. Doing nice things for others is a sure way to boost your mental health and improve how you feel about yourself. Volunteering can boost self-esteem when you help others.
9. Get Back into Your Hobbies. Improving your mental health can be as easy as when you spend time doing the things you enjoy. Creative hobbies like art and music are great ways to feel connected with your emotions.
10. Take Care of Yourself. Overall, do things that take care of your overall wellbeing and health. Avoid smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, and being around people who have a negative impact on your psychological well being.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse

It is common to see mental illness with substance abuse. Many people turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their mental illness symptoms. While they can temporarily relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression, drugs and alcohol can also make these symptoms worse, which can make people do more drugs or alcohol to offset those symptoms and turn into a vicious cycle. When mental illness disorders and substance abuse disorders appear together, they are called co occurring disorders. Dual diagnosis treatments are necessary when dealing with co-occurring disorders as they will address issues simultaneously to stop the substance abuse cycle.

Where to Find Treatment for Mental Health

TruPath Recovery offers treatment for mental illness disorders and drug and alcohol addiction. Our treatment centers offer a variety of evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy as well as holistic and alternative treatments like yoga and acupuncture to treat emotional health from all angles. If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health disorders or substance use disorders, please give us a call so we can give you back control of your life.

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