DIY Mental Health
Headlines and personal experience inform us that the world is facing a mental health crisis. Daily life if fraught with challenges, small and large. Counseling is certainly an option, but there are things that you can do on your own to reduce the impact of daily stressors. Stress affects our health, impacting the quality of our lives as well as the length of our lives. Here are four ways you can begin to address your physical and mental health. You don’t have to do any of it alone, though. Reach out for support.
SLEEP:
You can make sure that your body gets enough sleep each night. Numerous studies have shown the importance of sleep. Adequate sleep is important to our health. Harvard Health Publishing suggests that “people who sleep poorly are at risk for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, among other chronic conditions.” Sleep is also vital to the way that your brain functions. Adequate sleep helps you to think more clearly, make better decisions, and provides energy for activities and for interacting with others.
SUPPORT SYSTEM:
Interacting in positive ways with others is good for you. You live longer, and you live better. The Neuroscience Center warns that “people without these support systems in place have been shown to have higher rates of depression, lower life expectancy, and many other negative side effects.”
EXERCISE:
You can also exercise to improve your health, both physically and mentally. Exercise is good for your heart and your lungs. It is good for bones and muscles. It is also one of best, if not the best, means of addressing depression and anxiety. You don’t have to have a gym membership or gym equipment to exercise.
ALCOHOL:
Alcohol is known to change your brain. It is a depressant. Do you really need to add depressants to your life? “Clear patterns have emerged between alcohol consumption and increased risks of certain types of cancer,” says the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. There are a number of ways to stop drinking – ask your doctor for recommendations.
These are just four things you can do on your own, but you do not need to do them alone. We are often more successful when we engage with others, and it is often more fun. Here are some suggestions for finding support and encouragement: friends, family, your doctor, a therapist, an organization, a group, church, etc.