Mental health is something we ignore in a period of crisis. But, I would like to suggest, that it is the most important in a period like this. Let’s see why.
These days, lots of people lost their jobs. And the price tags of the essential goods rocket hiking. Not to mention the recent COVID outbreak also back up the crisis. As we know, most of the factories and the farmlands were closed at that time. With these issues, a global supply shortage occurs and the shipping costs hike.
With those issues, most countries around the world face lots of problems with food and supplies and some of the countries going through bankruptcy. Especially, in these days Sri Lanka is in an economic crisis and it has defaulted on its foreign debts for the first time.
Why is Mental Health essential?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. That means it affects how we think, feel and act.
Therefore, it is more likely to reflect our mental health by how we act.
However, mental and physical health is equally vital to our overall health. As an example, depression increases the risk of long-lasting physical health problems like stroke, diabetes, and heart conditions. And also, stress leads us to many heart conditions, and stress eating leads us to many unhealthy food habits.
Did mental health change over time?
Yes, a person’s mental health changes over time. And it depends on many factors such as hard-working for a long time, stressful relationships, economic hardship periods etc.
On the other hand, the opposite of those factors affects a good and peaceful mind. So, as time passes and the things that happen around us differ accordingly.
How to avoid things that affect our mentality?
The most effective way to keep your mind very well is to avoid negative things that affect your mind. For example, engaging in a toxic relationship affects your mind negatively and may lead to anxiety or depression. Works that must engage day and night are stressful and affects your mind negatively.
Some things can be avoided easily. Such as toxic relationships and some stressful environments. But not all of them. There may be cases that we can’t avoid.
These tricks help you to fix your mood
Keep in touch with your friends and family
Keeping in touch with your friends and family helps you to reduce your stress and anxiety. Your family is your closest thing. Good family life makes a perfect mood-fixing environment. Good friends always keep you happy. Travelling with friends and having a nice evening with family helps you to relax and reset your mind. It gives you a positive effect and helps your mental well-being.
“In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
Eat well not only to fill up your stomach but to feed your brain
A balanced nutritious diet is beneficial to your physical as well as mental well-being. Some foods positively help your mental health. Such as fruits like Avocados, Whole grains, Nuts like cashew, Yoghurt, Chicken and Salmon etc.
However, research indicates that taking balanced diet help to improve your mental health and reduces depressive behaviours and fewer emotional difficulties as well as anxiety. 1Puloka, I., Utter, J., Denny, S., & Fleming, T. (2017). Dietary behaviours and the mental well-being of New Zealand adolescents. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 53(7), 657–662. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13524
Find time to learn something new/ new skill that you love
Take time to improve new skills, or working on something you love helps to keep your enthusiasm. And it helps to increase your mental health as well as keep you motivated. Not to mention, it may help you financially in this crisis period.
Prioritize your sleep and resting
Not for the machines but also because our body also needs sleep and rest. At least 7 -9 hours of sleep is mandatory for your body to work well.
Sleep deprivation affects our mental health like feeling irritable and exhausted in the short term. Leading to heart diseases, diabetes and depression are long-term effects.
However, some research suggests that the relationship between mental health and sleep is complex. But, sleep also plays a causal role in the development and maintenance of different health problems. 2Scott, A. J., Webb, T. L., & Rowse, G. (2017). Does improving sleep lead to better mental health? A protocol for a meta-analytic review of randomised controlled trials. BMJ Open, 7(9), e016873. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016873
Do some exercises daily
Doing exercise not only increases your physical health but also your mental health. It increases your stamina and adds years to your life. People tend to do exercises because it gives them an enormous sense of well-being and feels more energetic. Not only that, good blood circulation helps to sleep well at night and also sharpens your memory.
This physical well-being leads to mental well-being too. Regular exercise reduces depression and anxiety. 3de Moor, M., Beem, A., Stubbe, J., Boomsma, D., & de Geus, E. (2006). Regular exercise, anxiety, depression and personality: A population-based study. Preventive Medicine, 42(4), 273–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2005.12.002
Not to mention it helps to reduce other mental health problems too.
Do some meditation to relax your mind
The best activity to relax your mind is meditation. And it helps to improve your concentration and memory. There are many ways of meditation. One of the easy meditations that anyone can start doing is concentrating on your breathing activity, inhaling and exhaling. However, for doing meditation you need a quiet and calm place without any distractions.
Some research indicates that meditation positively affects one’s mental and physical well-being. And also, it affects positive social interaction with people. 4Ohrnberger, J., Fichera, E., & Sutton, M. (2017). The relationship between physical and mental health: A mediation analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 195, 42–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.11.008
If you are willing to find many more ways of meditation, there are many ways to refer if you search Buddhism. our advice is not to engage alone in self-study. Seek expert help.
Important Advice
Your mental health impact all the areas of your life. A healthy person means not only physically, but also mentally. However, addressing your mental issues form your own is not recommended and it is not practical. So, always seek professional help for your mental health concerns.
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