For most people around the world, the past year has been extremely stressful. At the best of times, the stresses of everyday life can be overwhelming, but a global epidemic can be enough to push people over the edge. Avoiding the debilitating sense of dread that can take over can seem nearly impossible.
When we feel as though things are out of our control, we experience the most anxiety – and the previous 18 months have very much out of control for everyone. One of the few strategies to overcome worry is to do everything we can to ensure that we can focus on the aspects of our lives that we can control. Here, we look at how taking back control of your mental health can be a reality.
Stop putting things off
Some of the challenges we face in life are inevitable. Bills must be paid, as does rent, and medical ailments such as toothaches may only last so long before requiring an appointment with a skilled dentist such as http://www.lakeland-family-dentistry.com/ as the agony can interfere with getting things done. People are notorious for deferring tasks out of dread. A good example is going to the dentist. Not because you want do not actually want to see a doctor, but because of any pain or discomfort it may cause. The silly thing is that often, the reality is nowhere near as bad as the thought, so bite the bullet, book the appointment and go.
Get plenty of exercise
Exercise is another excellent technique to improve your mental health. Exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, which are hormones that reduce pain and promote healing in the body. You may see a significant difference in the way you look and feel in as little as a week.
To receive daily exercise, you don’t need to join a gym. Go for a long walk around the park or block, do some jumps while watching TV and take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Say no to social media
Social media can be a wonderful tool sometimes when it comes to improving mental health. It can allow us to reach out, talk to like-minded people and find support and resources. However, it can also cause or aggravate many mental health issues. For starters, platforms such as Instagram, which often show a highly curated and perfect lifestyle can make people feel inferior, and constant coverage of world issues can lead to feelings of anger, frustration, worry, and despair. If social media leaves you feeling less than yourself, or arouses negative emotions, then come off it, either for a short time or permanently. If nothing else, be selective about who and what you look at on there. It will make you feel much better!
Talk to someone
Just like many other issues, one of the first steps towards dealing with mental health issues can be admitting that you need some help and reaching out for it. It could be talking to a friend or family member, joining an online support group or reaching out to a mental health professional. Whoever you speak to, speaking out can sometimes make the biggest difference of all.
