Tag: Mental Health

Tips For Finding The Right Psychiatrist For Your Needs: by Brooke Chaplan

~ Eleanor Segall ~ Leave a comment

(image: free image)

Mental health is just as important as physical health and seeking professional help can make a significant difference in one’s life. But choosing the right psychiatrist can be a daunting task. Finding the right person who understands your needs, and creates a treatment approach that suits you, can be overwhelming. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some helpful tips for finding the right psychiatrist for your mental health needs.

Ask for Referrals (If Private)

Start by asking for referrals from trusted sources such as family, friends, or a primary healthcare provider if you are going privately. You can’t always choose who you get referred to on the NHS, if you live in the UK but have to trust your GP will refer you to someone good. It’s always a good idea to get recommendations from people who have gone through similar experiences and found a psychiatrist that was helpful to them. Additionally, you could check with your GP or local mental health clinic for referrals.

Check Credentials

Psychiatrists are medical doctors with additional education and training in psychiatry. It’s important to ensure that the psychiatrists you’re considering are board-certified in psychiatry, meaning they have undergone a rigorous training and certification process (in the NHS they will be certified). If going privately, check out their education, training, and professional experience to ensure they hold a reputable degree from a top-rated institution and possess the license to operate.

Consider Experience and Specialisations

A well-experienced psychiatrist would be more likely to handle specific issues than a psychiatrist who is new to practice. You’ll want to find a psychiatrist that has experience in treating the specific mental health conditions or concerns you may have. For example, if you’re dealing with anxiety, you’ll want to seek out a psychiatrist who specialises in anxiety disorders.

Insurance Coverage (For USA/ private insurance)

If you have private health insurance, check with your provider to see which psychiatrists are in-network to help out with the cost of treatment. You may also ask your psychiatrist if they offer a payment plan to make their services more affordable. If in the USA, If you don’t have insurance, consider seeking treatment at community health clinics that offer sliding-fee scales. If in UK, this is free via the NHS but can be a long waiting list, if you are not at crisis point.

Trust Your Instincts

Lastly, trust your instincts. You want to feel comfortable with the psychiatrist you choose, so it is important to ensure that their communication style and methods align with what works best for you. During your first appointment with a potential psychiatrist, pay attention to how the psychiatrist speaks, if they listen to you, and how they react to your concerns. It’s important to choose someone you can feel comfortable opening up to.

It’s important to take the time to find a qualified psychiatrist you feel comfortable with, to help manage your mental health. Referrals from trusted sources, verifying credentials, experience, insurance coverage, and your comfort are all important factors in selecting the right psychiatrist to suit your needs. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be more confident in your search for the right psychiatrist.

Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and a qualified psychiatric professional can help you feel better mentally, emotionally, and physically.

If you’re in the UK: check out`: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer from the USA.

How Mental Illness Can Affect Our Coping Mechanisms.

~ Eleanor Segall ~ Leave a comment

(image: Unsplash)

Coping mechanisms are strategies that people use or develop in order to deal with, or avoid dealing with, difficult and stressful emotions or situations. Whilst some people may use exercise, a healthy diet or meditation as a way to process difficult feelings, it can be very easy to fall into unhealthy habits instead, especially if we have pre-existing mental health conditions.  

For example, those who have suffered with eating disorders may automatically fall back into restrictive eating habits or fall into a pattern of binge eating when life gets difficult. Whilst we can easily beat ourselves up for not ‘handling things’ in a healthy and productive manner, it’s important to remember that coping mechanisms serve an instinctive purpose. In times of stress, we seek comfort and safety. On a biochemical level, unhealthy coping mechanisms are serving that purpose.  

That doesn’t mean we should allow them to continue, however. Part of overcoming mental illness is learning how to cope in healthy ways that serve a higher purpose for you long term. Here, we will take a closer look at how mental illness can affect our coping mechanisms, and how you can learn to shift your unhealthy coping habits into more helpful ones. 

Why mental illness makes us vulnerable 

Mental illnesses come in a wide variety, and each person will experience them slightly differently to the next. But essentially, mental illness means that our brains aren’t working exactly how they should. This can warp our perception, and make us feel more anxious, stressed, insecure and prone to depression than we would be otherwise. 

When we are stressed, we seek instant comfort. Our brains instinctively drive us to seek the quickest fix and push us to run away from our cause of stress. This is why when you are really, really hungry, all you want to do is eat sugary foods such as chocolate – your body knows that’s the quickest fix for its hunger, even though you know consciously that it’s not the healthiest option. 

For people with mental illness, this stress response can trigger a repetition of a familiar pattern of negative behaviour that instantly soothes or avoids the initial problem, but also creates bigger issues long term. 

Recognise your behaviour 

It’s important to recognise when we are relying on unhelpful coping mechanisms to avoid facing stress, as they can lead to more serious mental and physical problems. If you are fixating on something that is not going to help you long term, such as obsessive cleaning, isolating yourself from family and friends, or abusing alcohol, you need to consciously recognise the signs that your habits are not serving you. 

You may find it helpful to write down the root causes of your negative habits, and commit to facing the problems head on instead of allowing them to cause you further problems. Talking to someone you trust can be a massive help and relief, and can help you springboard yourself into a better place mentally. 

Make small changes 

Often when our mental health is low, we can feel overwhelmed by the thought of fixing everything. Remember, your perception is magnified when you are struggling mentally, so everything will seem worse and harder than it truly is. Being kind to yourself and committing to changing just one small habit at a time can be really helpful in focusing on what you can achieve – one step at a time.  

Speaking to a health professional can be an intimidating thought, but sometimes it is necessary in order for us to make profound changes to our health and wellbeing. There is no shame in asking for help, and you are not alone. By recognising when our coping mechanisms are beginning to be less than healthy, we can make the choice to improve them. 

This article is written by a freelance writer.

Taking Care of Your Mental Health When Living Alone: by Anita Ginsburg.

~ Eleanor Segall ~ Leave a comment

(image: Unsplash)

Living alone can be an amazing experience. You get to enjoy your own company, have complete control over your home, and create your own unique environment. However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Living alone can also be lonely, isolating, and downright scary at times. It’s even more challenging when we’re going through something that affects our mental health. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some practical tips for taking care of your mental health when living alone.

Create a Routine

One of the biggest challenges of living alone is that we don’t have anyone else to be accountable for. We can sleep all day, watch Netflix all night, and neglect our responsibilities without any immediate consequences. This can lead to a lack of structure and routine, which can have a negative impact on our mental health. Creating a simple routine can help provide some structure to your day and give you a sense of purpose. Start by defining what your day should look like from the moment you wake up until the moment you go to bed. This doesn’t have to be complicated – it can be as simple as waking up at the same time every day, doing some exercise in the morning, working for a few hours, and then taking some leisure time in the afternoon.

Stay Connected

Living alone can be incredibly lonely, especially if you’ve recently moved to a new city or lost touch with friends and family. Social connections are essential for our mental health, so it’s important to stay connected with others in any way possible. Calling or texting friends and family, joining a virtual book club, or connecting with others on social media can all help alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Create a Comfortable and Safe Home Environment

Living alone can also be scary sometimes, especially if you’ve had negative experiences in the past. It’s important to create a comfortable and safe home environment that you enjoy spending time in. This can include things like decorating your apartment with things that make you happy, investing in a security system, and ensuring that your doors and windows are locked at all times. Feeling comfortable and secure in your home can help alleviate anxiety and stress.

Take Care of Your Physical Health

Taking care of your physical health is crucial for your mental health, especially when living alone. When we don’t have anyone else to motivate us or remind us, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits. Eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly can all help improve your mental health.

Seek Professional Help if Necessary

Lastly, if you’re struggling with your mental health, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Living alone can be challenging, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. There are many resources available to help you cope with mental health challenges, including therapy, a psychiatrist, support groups, and hotlines. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help if you need it.

Living alone can be an amazing experience, but it’s important to take care of your mental health when living solo. Creating a routine, staying connected with others, creating a comfortable and safe home environment, taking care of your physical health, and seeking professional help if necessary can all help alleviate mental health challenges. Remember, you’re not alone – there are many resources available to help support you on your mental health journey. So, take care of yourself and enjoy the independence and freedom that comes with living alone.

Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer form the USA.

5 Effective Strategies To Manage Stress As An Entrepreneur.

~ Eleanor Segall ~ Leave a comment

(image: Radu Florin, Unsplash)

We all know that being an entrepreneur comes with its fair share of exhilarating highs and daunting lows. The constant pressure to innovate, meet deadlines, lead, and overcome obstacles can take a toll on our mental and emotional wellbeing. 

This is where stress management comes into play. It is important for entrepreneurs to manage their stress, as stress can affect creativity, energy and judgement. If you are an entrepreneur who needs guidance with stress management, read these five effective strategies below: 

Strategy 1: Prioritise Self Care

Self-care is anything you do to take care of yourself – mentally and physically. By taking care of yourself, you promote relaxation. Although relaxation cannot take your stress away entirely, it sure helps. 

Self-care can come in the form of walking around the block, meditating in your garden, taking a warm bath, or even picking up your guitar and pulling some strings. 

To prioritise self-care, you must set up a self-care routine and stick to it; for example, every day after work, set aside an hour for meditation. 

Strategy 2: Delegate And Outsource

As an entrepreneur, you might be used to doing everything independently. It is after all the hard work that got you to the point of owning a business. But you do not have to do everything anymore. 

An overload of work causes an overload of stress, so start delegating and outsourcing tasks – it can be anything from delegating administrative tasks to outsourcing Content Marketing. 

To give you peace of mind, find trustworthy people to handle these tasks for you. Hire the right team members and research and compare outsourcing partners to ensure you have the best. 

Strategy 3: Improve Your Time Management Skills

Time management is a word that often gets entrepreneurs running in the opposite direction. It can seem like an insurmountable task to take on, especially when so many responsibilities come with running a business. 

However, time management is essential for handling your stress. To better your time management skills, create a to-do list, set up a time-blocking system, and prioritise your daily tasks. 

Luckily this is the modern age, so you can use many online time management tools – Trello or Asana are just two of them. So please don’t let stress get the best of you just because your day is filled with tasks; utilise these tools! 

Strategy 4: Develop A Support Network

People need people, no matter their personality. If you are going through a tough time, reach out to your family members, your friends, or even a trusted business partner/employee. 

Talking about how you are feeling is known to reduce stress because it gives you an outlet to vent. 

So leverage the support of those closest to you; you will be surprised at how much better you feel. 

Strategy 5: Adopt Stress Reduction Techniques

Stress reduction techniques are daily practices you can implement to help reduce your stress. Popular stress reduction techniques include deep breathing exercises, visualisation, and journalling. 

Deep breathing exercises can help you relax by focusing on controlled, long breaths that slowly move in and out of your body. Visualisation involves visualising a calming scene or activity, such as a beach or a walk in the park. And journaling your thoughts and feelings can provide an outlet for difficult emotions. 

You can always contact a professional if you’re unsure about these techniques. They have the necessary skills and knowledge to teach you how to effectively use each technique. 

Start innovating, meeting deadlines, leading and overcoming obstacles with a healthy mindset.

By following these five effective stress management strategies, you will be an unstoppable entrepreneur! 

This article was written by a freelance writer,.

Exciting News- We Are A Vuelio Top 10 UK Mental Health Blog Again!

~ Eleanor Segall ~ Leave a comment

Thanks to our friends at Vuelio, who not only ranked as again as a Top 10 UK Mental Health blog which is amazing- but included this little blog in the top 5!!

This is our highest ranking and I am so honoured. Thanks to all the writers and business/brands we work with too for their hard work in creating content.

This blog is in its 7th year now and can’t wait to see what the next year will bring. This is particularly special as this week is Mental Health Awareness Week too. The aim of this blog is to provide information to help people feel less alone and to dispell any myths of stigmas around mental illness.

Well done to all on this list and all the fab mental health bloggers out there.

You can see the list here: https://www.vuelio.com/uk/social-media-index/mental-health-blogs-uk-top-10/

Thank you Vuelio team!

Eleanor x

How To Safely Treat An Eating Disorder by Lizzie Weakley.

~ Eleanor Segall ~ 1 Comment

(image: Annie Spratt: Unsplash)

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that require a multi-dimensional approach to treatment. They can affect people of all ages, genders, races, and backgrounds, causing severe emotional and physical distress if left untreated. The good news is that there are many safe and effective treatment options available to those struggling with eating disorders. This article will explore some of the most effective ways to safely treat an eating disorder, including therapy, medication, nutrition counselling, and support groups.

Eating Disorder Treatment Therapy

One of the most important aspects of care is eating disorder treatment therapy. There are different types of therapy available to those struggling with an eating disorder, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), and family-based therapy (FBT). These therapies can help individuals identify and change distorted thoughts and behaviours around food, body image, and weight. CBT is particularly effective in treating individuals with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, while DBT can help those struggling with binge eating disorder and emotional dysregulation. FBT is a family-based approach to treating eating disorders in adolescents and children, which focuses on empowering the family to help the individual recover.

Medication

Medication may also be prescribed to individuals with eating disorders, particularly those with comorbid conditions such as anxiety or depression that are affecting their recovery. Antidepressants can help reduce symptoms of depression or anxiety, while antipsychotics may be prescribed for those with severe symptoms of body dysmorphia, or the distorted belief that their body is flawed. However, medication should be used alongside therapy and other forms of treatment, and under the close supervision of a medical professional.

Nutrition Counselling

Nutrition counseling can be an important part of eating disorder treatment, particularly for those with severe malnutrition or gastrointestinal problems. A registered dietitian can help individuals create a balanced and customized meal plan, learn about appropriate portions, and manage food fears and weight concerns. Nutrition counseling may also include education around mindful eating, intuitive eating, and healthy coping mechanisms. However, it is important to note that nutrition counseling alone is not sufficient for treating eating disorders.

Support Groups

Support groups can be a valuable resource for individuals struggling with eating disorders, as they provide a safe and non-judgmental environment for sharing experiences and gaining support. They can be particularly beneficial for those who cannot afford or access individual therapy, or who prefer a group format. Local and online support groups are available, and many are free or low-cost. Support groups can also provide a sense of community and belonging, which can be helpful in reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Eating disorders can be devastating, but there is hope for recovery. Treatment may involve a combination of therapy, medication, nutrition counselling, and support groups, depending on the individual’s unique needs and circumstances. Recovery is a journey, and it may take time and patience, but with the right support and resources, it is possible. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, reach out to a healthcare professional for help. Remember, you are not alone.

Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from the USA.

How To Navigate Grief With Self Care and Counselling Strategies By Brooke Chaplan.

~ Eleanor Segall ~ Leave a comment
(image: free image)

Grief is a difficult emotion to process, especially when it’s the result of the death of a loved one. It can be overwhelming and can seem never-ending. While it’s impossible to rid yourself of grief completely, there are ways to manage it so that you can start living your life again. Read on to learn more about how self-care strategies and counselling can help you navigate your grief.

Self-Care Strategies for Navigating Grief

One of the best ways to deal with grief is through self-care practices. These are activities that allow you to focus on yourself and give yourself permission to take some time away from your feelings. Here are some tips for engaging in self-care while grieving:

Take time away from work or school

Give yourself permission to step away from your daily obligations and focus on taking care of yourself during this difficult time.

Get outside

Nature is proven to help reduce stress levels, so go for a walk or spend some time outdoors in whatever feels natural (hiking, swimming, etc.).

Spend time with friends or family

Surrounding yourself with people who love and understand what you’re going through can be incredibly helpful during times of grief. Talk openly about your emotions—it may help relieve some of the pain.

Find activities that bring joy

Find activities that bring joy into your life—even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time! Whether it’s reading, painting, listening to music, playing sports, or whatever else makes you happy—give yourself permission to do what brings joy.

Counselling Strategies for Dealing With Grief

Sometimes self-care isn’t enough; everyone needs extra support sometimes, and if that’s true for you, grief counseling may be an option worth considering. Talking through experiences with an outside perspective can help make sense of seemingly senseless situations. Counsellors have been trained in techniques specifically designed to help those dealing with loss manage their emotions in healthy ways. Additionally, counsellors also provide other strategies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is often used as a way to reframe negative thoughts and behaviours associated with grief into more positive ones. This can lead to improved mental health over time for many and provide insight into how best to handle future losses should they occur again. There are other forms of therapy you could try too, so research and find whats best for you.

Grief is an emotion that everyone will experience at some point in their lives—and it doesn’t always come easily or naturally. But by implementing self-care practices such as taking breaks from work or school and finding activities that bring joy into your life, along with seeking professional counselling services if needed, navigating grief becomes less daunting of a task than it may initially seem when faced with a loss of any kind.

Ultimately, no two people will grieve in quite the same way; however, these strategies serve as a starting point for anyone looking for support during this difficult journey we call life.

Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer from the USA.

10 Steps To Managing Your Anxiety by Anita Ginsburg.

~ Eleanor Segall ~ Leave a comment

(image: Joice Kelly at Unsplash)

Anxiety is a natural response to stress, but sometimes it can become overwhelming and interfere with your daily life. If you’re struggling with anxiety, you don’t have to go it alone. There are many effective strategies for managing anxiety that psychiatrists and mental health professionals use every day. Here are 10 proven strategies for reducing anxiety and taking control of your thoughts and feelings.

Identify Your Triggers

The first step in managing your anxiety is to identify what triggers it in the first place. Is there a specific situation, person, or event that causes you to feel anxious? By recognizing these triggers, you can begin to take steps to avoid them or find ways of coping when they do arise.

Keep a Stress Journal

Keeping track of your thoughts and feelings can be a great way to gain insight into how your body reacts to certain situations and how best to manage them. Write down any physical sensations, emotions, or triggers that contribute to your anxiety so that you can better understand what’s causing it and how best to deal with it.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise is not only a great way to burn off pent-up energy but also helps release endorphins which act as natural mood boosters. Even just a few minutes of exercise each day can help reduce stress levels and improve overall mental wellbeing.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Taking time out of each day for relaxation is essential for keeping your stress levels low. Take up yoga, practice deep breathing exercises, or listen to calming music before bed each night—whatever works for you. Finding activities that bring about relaxation will help reduce the intensity of your anxiety over time and lead towards more peaceful days ahead.

Talk To Someone

Talking about the things that are causing you anxiety is often the first step in taking control of it again; whether it be with family members, friends, or even professional psychiatric services, like New Tele Doc, if needed. Having someone else who you trust to talk through issues with can help put problems into perspective and provide clarity on potential solutions going forward—something we often need when dealing with our own anxieties.

Get Enough Sleep

Lack of sleep can exacerbate existing anxieties so make sure you get at least 7-8 hours per night whenever possible; if not more depending on personal circumstances. If insomnia is an issue then try getting outside during daytime hours (weather permitting) as exposure to sunlight helps regulate the body’s natural circadian rhythm which aids in quality sleep later at night.

Eat Well and Drink Water

Eating well balanced meals throughout the day helps keep energy levels high while avoiding unhealthy snacks or sugary drinks which can cause blood sugar spikes/drops leading towards feelings of fatigue/anxiousness respectively. Similarly drinking lots of water helps ensure good hydration levels which makes us feel more alert mentally whilst providing physical benefits too.

Practice Mindful Meditation

Mindful meditation involves focusing on one’s thoughts without judgment in order to allow yourself some time away from any negative self-talk or worrying thoughts; allowing yourself time away from such things has been proven beneficial for those struggling with anxiety issues. It’s important however not to focus solely on this technique as other methods should always be employed alongside mindful meditation too when tackling any difficult issue such as this one.

Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol

Both caffeine and alcohol are known stimulants which if consumed regularly can increase adrenal hormones leading towards heightened states of fear, anxiety, and nervousness. Try replacing coffee/tea based beverages (which contain caffeine) instead with green tea or fruit juices (which don’t!) as these are far healthier options overall particularly when trying to combat any pre-existing anxieties already present within oneself.

Break Negative Thinking Patterns

Lastly breaking negative thinking patterns involves challenging any irrational beliefs we may have about ourselves by looking at evidence objectively. This could involve writing down pros and cons for certain decisions we make before acting upon them so we have an understanding of why certain actions should be taken based upon factual evidence rather than assumptions made from our own potentially skewed perspectives.

Everyone experiences periods of worry from time-to-time but learning how best to manage those worries will increase your confidence in being able handle similar situations better next time they arise. By following the above 10 steps anyone suffering from regular bouts of anxiety will likely find their overall quality of life improving dramatically once proper management techniques become part of their daily routine! Psychiatric services such as therapy sessions/medication may also be necessary depending upon individual circumstances. Seeking medical advice should never be seen as a sign of weakness but rather strength instead because ultimately tackling problems head-on is better than running away from them indefinitely.

Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer.

On World Bipolar Day I Hope For: The Road to Remission by Eleanor

~ Eleanor Segall ~ Leave a comment

(image: World Bipolar Day)

Today is World Bipolar Day and for those of us living with bipolar disorder we know that living with it every day, year round is more accurate. However today is our day to talk about life with mental illness and to try and eradicate the stigma around the illness… ‘crazy lady’ ‘nuts’ ‘drama queen’.

World Bipolar Day is designed to raise awareness worldwide of bipolar conditions and to work to eliminate social stigma whilst providing information to educate and help people understand the condition.

Even though I live in remission/recovery with the illness, I am medicated daily to be this way, and I have undergone years of therapy and learnt coping methods too, with support from family.

Well, before I found medication that stabilises my bipolar highs and lows, life looked very different.

There were times I couldn’t work. I was so depressed I lay in bed in all day, only getting up to eat. I was scared to have a shower and wash my hair.

Life looked bleak. All I wanted was my duvet and oblivion. I had intrusive thoughts about ending my life, I was in a lot of emotional pain and this would last for weeks, sometimes months on end.

Bipolar isn’t just a bit high or a bit low…. its depression and mania, suicidal ideation and psychosis, self harm thoughts, hypersexuality, hyper activity, believing delusions that aren’t real…..SO much. Its episodic but it can ruin your life. Some turn to drugs, alcohol, sex to cope. Some hear voices too.

I have been in hospital twice for fairly long stays. I have been sectioned under the mental health act and held in a hospital unit against my will. I have been injected with sedatives to calm my mind and body when I couldn’t consent. I have met people in hospital who were suicidal, anxious, depressed, high on drugs, in psychosis. I lived on a ward where I heard people being restrained.

So, not much fun really. Luckily this month I am celebrating 9 years of remission out of hospital! I also came out of hospital as a nervous wreck and thankfully, therapy has helped.

(Image: speakingbipolar.com)

This blog is inspired by one of my followers who asked me what was my ‘Aha’ moment in recovery.

As well as finding the medicine Lithium, a salt that controls the mood fluctuations, the biggest thing I did for my own healing was go through therapy for my panic attacks and PTSD like symptoms. This was done with the support of my husband and family and because I has been on an NHS waiting list for 2 years, I needed help. My therapist and I have done EMDR trauma therapy which has helped me to process things.

In fact, I still do get anxiety attacks – just less. I have been in a very good place generally in the past year. Finding support at home, at work and from friends and family has been the most stabilising part.

I have had bipolar since I was 15, I am 34 and can tell you that this has not always been the case and my mental health has and will fluctuate.

I learnt recently that bipolar brains are neurodiverse, meaning our brain chemicals act differently to a neurotypical brain. Always good to understand the biology behind it too as this illness can be inherited and run in families- my Dad and I and other relatives have it.

On World Bipolar Day I hope:

-Employers adhere to the disability act and make reasonable adjustments to help those of us with bipolar to work in a better way for them, including hybrid working.

-People with mental illness aren’t fired because they can’t get to a physical workplace.

-Mental health services need better funding, so that people with bipolar can get a correct diagnosis sooner and get the help they need.

-People not in the Western world will get access to mental health medication and therapies that they desperately need.

Thank you for your ongoing support,

Eleanor

x

Read more about my journey with bipolar in my book Bring me to Light

5 Ways Good Physical Health Can Improve Mental Health by Lizzie Weakley

~ Eleanor Segall ~ Leave a comment

(image: free image)

It’s no secret that physical and mental health are closely linked. When you’re physically healthy, you tend to feel better mentally and emotionally. The reverse is also true; when your mental health is suffering, your physical health often declines as well. That’s why it’s so important to take care of your physical health, especially if you’re struggling with mental health issues. Here are five ways that good physical health can improve mental health.

Improved Mood

When you’re physically healthy, you tend to have more energy and feel better overall. This can lead to an improved mood and a more positive outlook on life. If you’re feeling down, try getting some exercise or eating a nutritious meal. You may be surprised at how much better you feel afterwards!

Increased Relaxation

When you take care of your physical body, it helps reduce stress and tension. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects, and can also help you sleep better at night. A healthy diet provides your body with the nutrients you need to function properly, which can also help reduce stress levels. If you’re struggling with food intake, consider consulting with a dietician who is trained in mental health. They’ll be able to assist you with services tailored to help you both mentally and physically!

Improved Concentration and Memory

Physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, which can improve brain function. Eating a healthy diet has also been linked with improved cognitive function. If you’re having trouble concentrating or remembering things, try adding more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet and increasing your activity level. You don’t have to do this all at once, but can gradually adjust your diet to include more whole foods.

Greater Sense of Accomplishment

When you set goals for yourself and then achieve them, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and boosts your self-esteem. Getting regular exercise and eating right are both great ways to set and achieve goals that improve your physical health while also improving your mental well-being. Consider rewarding yourself when you hit certain goals, such as finishing three days of exercising in a row. Before you know it, you’ll be forming healthy habits!

Enhanced Coping Skills

Having good physical health can give you the strength and endurance you need to get through difficult times. When you’re physically healthy, you have more energy to put towards coping with difficult situations. You can also use exercise and healthy eating as positive coping mechanisms when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. There’s a reason why many people like to go on a walk to clear their mind. Consider adding in these healthy coping mechanisms the next time you’re stressed.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, taking care of your physical health is a great place to start. There are many benefits to be gained from eating right and exercising regularly, not the least of which is improved mental well-being. So if you’re feeling down, try using some of these tips to boost your mood and improve your mental health.

This article was written by freelance writer Lizzie Weakley.