Like physical health, we all have a state of mental health, with some people being deemed relatively healthy and others requiring professional help. In recent years, the stigma surrounding mental health has started to lift, allowing us to finally have open conversations about our well-being. However mentally healthy you may be or think you are, it’s crucial that you do what you can to take care of yourself.
Keeping that in mind, here are six mental health mistakes to avoid.
1. Lack Of Physical Activity
Everyone knows that exercise helps us to stay physically fit, but what many people don’t realize is that it can prevent stress and anxiety too. In fact, experts believe that a simple thirty-minute walk can have an effect, with more physical activities having a bigger and better outcome. Because of this, it’s vital that you make time to exercise for at least thirty minutes every single day.
2. Not Getting Enough Sleep
While it’s important to stay active, this doesn’t mean sacrificing sleep in the process. When you have a rough nights sleep, it can leave you feeling cranky, emotional, and stressed, and this will start to cause damage unless you get into a proper routine and stick to seven or eight hours a night. To help you ensure this, you should keep your room dark and cool, with no electronics.
While you should certainly distance yourself from people that make you feel bad, you shouldn’t isolate yourself from everyone you know.
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3. Associating With Negative People
Regardless of the state of your mental health, associating with people that make you feel bad about yourself will always cause some damage. If the person making you feel this way is a family member or spouse, then you should consider family counseling and couples therapy retreats to deal with your issues. For those that aren’t family, you may want to distance yourself.
4. Isolating Yourself From Friends
While you should certainly distance yourself from people that make you feel bad, you shouldn’t isolate yourself from everyone you know. Even introverted people need social interaction now and then, or you’ll start to feel lonely, depressed, and may even develop social anxiety. If you start to spend lots of time alone, arrange to meet up with friends after work or give your mom a call.
5. Refusing To Get Help
No matter what people tell you, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. In fact, that’s the very best thing you can do. With that in mind, it’s crucial that you speak to a doctor, counsellor, or therapist when you start to notice problems with your mental health. They’ll be able to offer advice on ways to boost your mental health, including possible treatment options.
6. Self-Medicating With Substances
Drinking, smoking, and taking drugs may offer a temporary release from your mental health issues, but they are far from a cure. In fact, all they’re ever going to do is make your problems worse, while adding an addiction to the mix. Instead of trying to handle things yourself, speak to a professional for support and advice on proper treatment methods.
Mental health is not something that should be taken lightly, so avoid making the mistakes listed above.
