Mental health is something we all have and need to look after just as importantly as the rest of our self. Sometimes we can forget how important it is to take care of it. We’ve made a guide on ways to look after your mental health and how to help others look after theirs too.
- Talk to others about how you feel and reach out when you need too to ask for help – often it can be difficult to let others know how we feel and that we are struggling, yet this could help us greatly. Past experiences or worries can stop us from talking. We might feel concerned about how people will react to us, or that they may not understand as they never see our struggles. There is always someone with an open ear. Samaritans are around to talk any time. www.samaritans.org/
- Eat and Drink well – it is important for our mental health to get the right nutrition and fluids. The Eat Well Plate can help you to recognise the foods that are important in your diet, in order for our bodies to work well we need to fuel them well.
- Keep Active – The benefits of exercise on mental health is widely recognised as having positive effects. Check out the latest blog from the Body Coach who explores the research regarding this https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise-143.html
- Do something you are good at – when things are difficult we can often loose sight of the things that are going well and what we are good at. How about making a list of all of your achievements and look at them when you need a confidence boost.
- Take a break – taking a break throughout the day can aid your mental health. This could be changing the scenery from your office desk to a walk to some mindfulness. The key is to find what works for you.
- Language is powerful – Although it is helpful to let others know that you have been through a struggle also when they are disclosing their story, do not suppose that what you experienced is exactly what they are. Statements such as “I know exactly what you’re going through” can be helpful to some, but dismissive to others. Do not assume what the other person is going through. Give them some space to talk it out, ask them what they need.
- Don’t Discriminate – Everyone has mental health, it does not discriminate, so do not discriminate against it.
- Accept yourself – do not compare yourself to others. Life is a journey and we are all going at our own pace. A Mental health difficulty such as depression and anxiety is something you experience, It is not you! The problems are the difficulty, not you. Turn your anxiety into a character that resonates with you to externalise it outside of yourself. Did you ever see that scene in Harry Potter with the bogarts? The Witches and Wizards turned what they feared into something they could see and work with – this could help. Check the video out:
Written by Elise, clinical supervisor for Young Devon
