Mental health is a huge part of life, but it's also something that's often overlooked or dismissed. It doesn't matter if it's an adult, a teenager, or even a child — mental health affects every aspect of everyone's life.
But what can be done to make sure that your mental health stays strong? Here are some things that can affect your mental health and what can be done to improve it.
Stressful Situations
Stress is one of the most common things that can affect your mental health. It can come from any number of sources — work, school, relationships, finances, etc. — and in some cases, it can become quite crippling. You might find yourself snapping at people for no reason, feeling overwhelmed and anxious, or having difficulty sleeping.
If you feel overwhelmed by stress regularly, it might be time to take a step back and reevaluate how you're managing your stressors. Try taking up yoga or meditation, talking to close friends about how you feel, or even just making small changes in your daily routine. These simple steps can help reduce the amount of stress you experience on a day-to-day basis.
You can also try talking to a therapist to help you pinpoint the source of your stress and work with you on ways to manage it better. This is a more long-term solution, but it can be highly beneficial in the long run.
Sleep Habits
Sleep is incredibly important for good mental health. In fact, studies have shown that people who don't get enough sleep are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than those who do get adequate rest. Make sure you're getting enough sleep each night (7–8 hours is recommended), and try to maintain a consistent bedtime routine. This will help ensure you wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead.
In addition, avoid screens before bed as much as possible. The blue light emitted from phones and other devices has been linked to insomnia and sleep disturbances.
Intense Social Media Use
Social media can be both beneficial and detrimental to your mental health. While staying connected with friends online is great for maintaining relationships and feeling connected to the world around you, too much social media use often comes with feelings of anxiety and depression. People tend to compare themselves to others, which can make them feel inadequate or unworthy if they don't measure up.
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by social media, try limiting your time on the platforms and taking a break from them altogether. This will allow you to focus on other things and give yourself a much-needed reprieve from the constant barrage of images, posts, and thoughts.
Try setting limits on how much time per day you spend scrolling through feeds or chatting with friends online so that it doesn't begin to take away from other aspects of your life — like spending time with loved ones or working on hobbies or projects.
Contact a mental health therapist for more information.
Share7 March 2023
When I initially started the therapy process about 10 years ago, I didn't take the time to scout out the right counselor. Instead, I just went to the first counselor that my doctor recommended, and the experience was less than enjoyable. I realized that I might need to do a little research to find the right counselor for me, so I took the time to carefully evaluate my needs and research different clinics in my area. I was able to find an amazing counselor who really seemed to have it under control, and it was incredibly beneficial to see the difference that it made. This blog is all about finding the right counselor.
