Mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Poor mental health means the inability to perform the above functions and can lead to an array of health problems if not treated. In this article we’ll provide you with an overview of mental health.
Who suffers from poor mental health?
Anyone can suffer from poor mental health. But it’s estimated that 1 in 5 adults have experienced poor mental health on a regular basis.
What causes mental health?
There are many factors that could lead to poor mental health. Oftentimes, they stem from negative experiences such as a traumatic event, illness, the loss of someone close, bullying, fears, and phobias. It begins with a chemical imbalance in the brain and can lead to anxiety, depression, and fleeting thoughts that would have never normally entered the brain.
When do you get it?
There’s no particular time in your life to suffer from poor mental health, and depending on environmental stresses in your life, you may suffer earlier on in life during hardships through puberty, or you may begin to suffer from poor mental health later on in life as life gets more difficult through affording bills and taking care of your physical health.
Why do you get it?
Your brain needs a multitude of chemicals to function properly, and if there’s an imbalance caused due to stresses in your life, this can sometimes lead to less of one chemical and too much of another. Serotonin, for example, is an essential chemical that helps reduce depression and anxiety, promotes healing of the body, and also helps keep your bones healthy. Traumatic experiences can lead to your serotonin levels being reduced and therefore your mental health begins to suffer.
Where can you turn for help?
If you feel you’ve been struggling to keep on top of your mental health, reach out to your doctor. They will be able to diagnose you and guide you along the best course of treatment. Medications can help. However, if you prefer not to take medication, there are options such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
How do you resolve it?
It can be a time-consuming process. However, there are many things you can do to help improve your poor mental health:
- Reducing your workload to give your mental health time to recover
- Eating a balanced and healthy diet will help the chemical imbalance restore itself
- Getting plenty of exercises can help release pent up emotions
- Making sure you get enough sleep will dramatically change the way you’re feeling
- Talking to a friend or family member about your feelings can help ease the load
- Climbing your way out of debt will help remove a stress factor and therefore, help improve your mental health.
There are a plethora of ways to help your mental health improve, and there’s help out there. Don’t suffer in silence! Reach out for help!
