Are you taking care of your mental health?

 

Mental health is very important. What is mental health? Mental health is a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. I am so happy that at this point it seems like most people do not have a problem discussing their issues with depression or anxiety. Once upon a time if a person expressed they had depression, everyone looked at them as if they needed a straitjacket. No one really understood that there were different types of depression that were triggered by different things and certainly no one understood what it meant to have anxiety. Now that we constantly hear all this mental health talk we know to be aware of it but how do we take care of it exactly? What can you do to take care of your mental health?

Here are ways to deal with anxiety...

• Journaling
  

  
  

Journaling is helpful because oftentimes when you have anxiety you are very anxious and need to express yourself and get your feelings out. Whenever you are feeling anxious or nervous it is good to write out what you are feeling. After a long day journal your thoughts so you do not feel as if you are holding everything in, even when you are having a good day journal it because it will be good to look back on when you are not having the best day.

• Taking A Walk

You have to get a change of scenery sometimes and sitting in the house letting your anxiety get the best of you is no good. Go out for a walk to reflect and clear your mind, when you get in a new space it is a new place for you to think. Going for a walk is also helpful when you do not know what is triggering your anxiety at the time, it may just be the need to get out and not sit in one place because it may represent something else.

• Exercising

Exercising is a great stress reliever, and it will take your mind off of your anxiety at the moment. Whenever I feel anxious I take my energy and focus it on getting a good workout in. By the end of the workout, you will feel so much better and a great amount of pressure will be lifted off of your shoulders. The exercise you choose depends on how you are feeling, cardio is great, and weightlifting and yoga are also good stress relievers.

• Finding A Hobby

Having something you like to do to keep your mind off of feeling anxious or nervous is perfect. Gardening and knitting are good hobbies to do to feel at peace. Starting a vegetable garden can help you to focus your time on putting it together and making it flourish. Knitting will allow you something to start and to be happy with when you complete it. By picking a hobby you are giving yourself a window of time to escape from worrying and now you can focus on something that makes you happy.

Here are ways to deal with moderate depression...

• Stay Motivated

When you are depressed most of the time you lose the will to do certain things. However, it is best to stay motivated in whatever it is that is a part of your day to day routine. Resist the urge to sit around and do nothing. If you want to give up you have to remember to push through because you will certainly get stronger and you will only slip into a deeper funk the more and more you sit around and do nothing.

• Write Daily Goals

Every morning you should write new goals to achieve throughout the day. It can be something simple like cleaning out your closet or doing at least thirty minutes of exercise. When you complete your daily goals you will feel accomplished and it will help your self-esteem. By setting daily goals you are asking yourself "what do I want to achieve today?" Once the goal is achieved you can set another one and it will take your mind off of feeling down and depressed.

• Say Affirmations

I like to write affirmations and say them to myself in the morning as a part of my morning routine to get me through the day. Write down positive affirmations that you want to instill in yourself and say them to yourself regularly and it will help you keep a positive mind. Even though you may feel down if you try to keep your spirits up it will make you feel a lot better little by little.

• Identify the problem and present resolutions

Certain triggers cause moderate depression and if you notice your depression comes and goes you have to figure out exactly what makes that happen. Once you identify what triggers your depression you need to find a resolution that keeps it away and a plan on how to deal with it if or when it comes back. Just because you get depressed does not mean you have to sit in it, kick its butt and get it away from you.

• Find the right way to express it

If you are feeling depressed you have to get it out and say how you feel, it will help you feel a lot better. Some people express themselves through music or dance. Poetry is also a good way to express yourself. You can even consider writing a novel, a fiction book can tell a story you want to express to get it off your chest, or you can write a non-fiction book where you share your experiences with depression and how to cope with it.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I am sharing what has worked for me.

Does journaling help anxiety? What is anxiety? what is mental health?