Suffering from mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression entails more than just feeling down. It’s not wanting to be alone, but not wanting to be around anyone else; it’s wanting to be productive but not being able to get out of bed; it’s being too tired to stay awake, but unable to turn off your brain. Thankfully, the stigma surrounding mental health is dissipating, and more people are realising that depression is no longer an excuse, and that if you have poor mental health, you will be given the support and care you need to recover.
Look after what you’re putting in your body
We all know that eating the right foods keeps our bodies fit and healthy, but did you know that what you eat can have an impact on your mental health? We feel sad, depressed, or anxious as a result of a chemical imbalance in our brains, and eating junk food frequently can greatly contribute to this imbalance.
One of the main reasons we are encouraged to eat nutrient-dense food is because of the mental benefits it can provide. Removing or reducing junk food from your diet will help to restore the chemical balance in your brain, making you feel much better about yourself.
Junk foods and foods high in sugar such as sweets, cakes and pastries, fizzy sugary drinks, refined carbs, alcohol, trans fats, aspartame and highly-processed foods are some of the things that are bad for your brain and should be avoided.
You may be surprised to hear that even coffee can (in moderation) have a surprising effect on your mental health. There are, in fact, many health benefits of coffee that can help lift your mood and your mental health.
Exercise will help more than just your body
We all know that exercising is a great way to keep our bodies healthy and strong, but did you know that it can also benefit our mental health? Exercising causes our brains to release a chemical called endorphins, which makes us feel better. Exercising regularly will make your body and mind feel better! Exercising will also help you feel better about yourself if you suffer from low self-esteem, so it’s a win-win situation.
Write a journal or start a blog
Keeping a diary allows you to record your thoughts and feelings while continuing on with your day as usual. Simply being able to express how you’re feeling can sometimes be beneficial. Not only that, but keeping a diary can be very useful to show your doctor in order for them to provide you with the best possible care. You might even be able to figure out mental health triggers from it! Consider keeping a journal to help your mental health in a variety of ways.
Have someone you can call
Finally, there’s nothing like a good old natter with someone you can trust every now and then. Allowing someone to know about your problems can help you halve the problem and allow someone else to assist you in getting through this difficult time. Even if you don’t talk about your problems all of the time, the conversation and distraction from them will be beneficial!
If you are worried about your mental health then there are many ways you can help yourself, but you can also reach out to your GP or a mental health helpline if you need extra support.
Good ideas, thank you!