Mental health is a part of overall wellness. Taking care of yourself means nurturing your physical body and your mental well-being. It’s not just about exercising; you need to understand your emotions and take care of them. Think about how you treat others. You want to respect people that you love and honor their feelings. The same goes for you. You deserve to be appreciated, and part of that has to do with self-care. Here’s how you can be proactive about your mental health and stay well.
Honor your Feelings
It’s crucial to know yourself when you want to take care of your mental health. Part of that is by listening to how you feel. When your intuition tells you that you have a feeling, honor that. Let’s say that your friend hurts your feelings. You were supposed to meet for coffee, and they canceled at the last minute, but they don’t seem remorseful. You carved out time to see this friend, and it hurt you that they are coming. It’s okay to feel sad or angry. Honor those feelings and let them know how you feel. The more you express how you feel, the better you will get to know yourself.
Setting Boundaries
Part of self-care is setting boundaries with others. You do not have to say yes to everybody. You need to figure out what you can and can’t do and honor those feelings. It’s okay to tell a friend that you cannot help them if you don’t have the energy. Some people struggle with self-sacrificing, and that can take a toll on a person‘s mental health. Setting and maintaining boundaries is an integral part of mental wellness. If you have trouble with that, you can talk about it with the therapist. People that have good boundaries end up feeling more mentally stable.
Having a Support System
You may have heard the expression “no man is an island.” What that means is we all need support sometimes. You don’t need to feel ashamed to ask for help. It’s crucial to have a support system of loved ones that you can rely on when you need them. You want to have people that you can share your victories with because those things matter. You also want individuals in your life who will be there to help you when you feel down. The support system is made up of these people who want to be there for you. And, in turn, you can be there for them. Part of mental wellness is recognizing that you can’t do it all. It would help if you relied on people to be there for you in times of hardship. And you want to be able to share your triumphs with these people as well.
Go to Therapy
Therapy isn’t just a place for people that have mental health issues. It’s for anyone who wants to better their life. Maybe you were going through a life transition, such as a divorce or break up. Perhaps you want to work on setting and attaining goals. Sometimes people struggle with procrastination, and a therapist can help. There are many ways that you can use therapy to your advantage. You can help a person stay mentally well because you are focusing on what’s important to you. It could be that you’re managing anxiety or panic attacks. Perhaps you struggle with a mental health disorder such as Panic Disorder, Depression, or Bipolar Disorder. Therapy is what you make of it. The truth is, seeing a therapist is a way to put your mental health first. If you’re unsure about therapy, it’s good to read about it. You can learn more about the benefits of mental health treatment here.
About the Author
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
