Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed each May in the U.S. Founded by Mental Health America, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans, the annual holiday’s purpose is to raise awareness and educate the public about: mental illnesses, such as the 18.1% of Americans who suffer from depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder; the realities of living with these conditions; and strategies for attaining mental health and wellness. Additionally, Mental Health Awareness Month strives to reduce the stigma, negative attitudes and misconceptions that surround mental illnesses. Those wanting to learn more about the impact of mental health on work performance should follow this link here. It’s in your interest to learn how to support your way through bouts of negative mental health so that you can perform effectively in work or any other environment.
Much of Mental Health America’s work is guided by the Before Stage 4 (B4Stage4) philosophy – that mental health conditions should be treated long before they reach the most critical points in the disease process. When we think about diseases like cancer or heart disease, we don’t wait years to treat them. We start before Stage 4-we begin with prevention, identify symptoms, and develop a plan of action to reverse and hopefully stop the progression of the disease. So why don’t we do the same for individuals who are dealing with potentially serious mental illness? Like other diseases, we need to address these symptoms early, identify the underlying disease, and plan an appropriate course of action on a path towards overall health. Moreover, it is for these reasons that medical professionals often recommend mental health treatment care plans to help people living with conditions such as anxiety and depression. Accordingly, you can find more info about mental health treatment care plans by doing some research online. Ultimately, it is vital to remember that mental health treatments have come a long way over the past few years and therefore there has never been more choice when it comes to combatting mental health conditions.
That is not all though. Many look at the treatment options like those offered at Honey Lake, which use a Bible-based approach, to help them on the road back to a positive state of mental wellness. With the help of licensed experts and a focus on Christianity, many prefer this alternative over the option of medicating themselves to cope with mental illness.
According to recent studies, anxiety is now snowballing in the United States (and considering the fact that our President picks Twitter fights with world leaders, this should come as no surprise). In August 2018, Barnes & Noble – who are the largest book retailer in the United States – announced a huge surge in the sales of books about anxiety; a 25 percent jump on June 2017. “[W]e may be living in an anxious nation,” one press release dryly notes.
As Psychology Today notes, mental health is much more than a diagnosis. It’s your overall psychological well-being-the way you feel about yourself and others as well as your ability to manage your feelings and deal with everyday difficulties. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, here are a few tips on how to improve your mental and emotional health. Making these changes will pay off in all aspects of your life. It can boost your mood, build resilience, and add to your overall enjoyment of life:
- Tell yourself something positive. Research shows that how you think about yourself can have a powerful effect on how you feel. When we perceive our self and our life negatively, we can end up viewing experiences in a way that confirms that notion. Instead, practice using words that promote feelings of self-worth and personal power. For example, instead of saying, “I’m such a loser. I won’t get the job because I tanked in the interview,” try, “I didn’t do as well in the interview as I would have liked, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to get the job.”
- Track gratitude and achievement with a journal. Include 3 things you were grateful for and 3 things you were able to accomplish each day. Generally contemplating gratitude is also effective, but you need to get regular practice to experience long-term benefit. Find something to be grateful for, let it fill your heart, and bask in that feeling.
- Your body releases stress-relieving and mood-boosting endorphins before and after you work out, which is why exercise is a powerful antidote to stress, anxiety, and depression. Whether you’re a yoga lover or swimming a few laps is your thing, find something that you genuinely enjoy doing and prioritize making time to do it.
- Take a break. In those moments when it all seems like too much, step away, and do anything but whatever was stressing you out until you feel a little better. Sometimes the best thing to do is a simple breathing exercise: Close your eyes and take 10 deep breaths. For each one, count to four as you inhale, hold it for a count of four, and then exhale for another four. This works wonders almost immediately.
- Get help when you need it. Seeking help is a sign of strength – not a weakness. And it is important to remember that treatment is effective. Don’t be afraid to look into options that can help you to feel better; it may just be the best decision that you will ever make. Some people may find that looking for alternative medications, similar to some CBD oil UK products, or enlisting the help of professional treatment, could help them to conquer their mental health and to live a life that is relatively free of negativity. Whatever your treatment choice, make sure it is the right decision for you. People who get appropriate care can recover from mental illness and addiction and lead full, rewarding lives.
