Some of the common signs that show mental illness are tiredness, feeling sad or crying frequently, feeling irritated and angry, constant negative thoughts, considering yourself useless and with no purpose, being alone, overthinking, feeling demotivated, losing interests, etc.
This article will provide insights into the following topics:
- Deal Better with Hard Times
- Why taking care of your mental health is important?
- How to stay strong in tough times?
- How do you keep going when times are tough?
- How do you keep your mental health strong?
Research tells that, writing about a difficult situation helps to have better health and less anxiety. After solving a problem, people face less stress and depression. One gets less upset by difficult memories if they focus on the positive sides of their lives. Feel your feelings, limit the use of social media, talk about what you feel, practice self-care, learn to set boundaries, and you will be out from the challenging situation very soon. Here are some ways to protect your mental health in tough times:
1. Pen it down
Writing about an upsetting event can make you feel better. Writing not only organizes your thoughts but also makes you feel less chaotic. It helps to release emotions, insight into yourself and gives you the power to take your problems away. Write about an event for 15 minutes every day and describe you feel about it.
2. Tackle your problems
Share your problems with a close friend or talk to an expert if something is bothering you for a long time. A stressful situation goes from one’s life only when it is meant to go. You cannot blame yourself or others for what you are feeling, neither you can waste your energy thing about it. The best solution is to tackle the problem slowly every day.
- Write down about the problems.
- List the solutions for every problem.
- Ask yourself what the best solution for your problem could be.
- Break your solutions into reasonable chunks and plan.
- Do not get discourages if the first solution does not work.
3. Transfer your thinking
Do not think the whole day negatively. Try to shift your thinking into something productive. People with good mental health have a sense of contentment, a fun, loving, and happy life, the capacity to deal with stress, a purpose in their life, a curiosity to learn new skills, and high self-esteem. Mental health depends upon how we think, behave, and feel in our daily life.
4. Get proper sleep
Getting enough sleep for good mental health is a necessity. It influences your mood, memory, and ability to handle stress. Skipping a few hours is not considered to be good for mental health. Chronic sleep loss may result in insomnia and can wreak havoc on your outlook.
- Sleep for 7-9 hours each night.
- Take a break from the stimulation of TV screens, phone, tablet, etc.
- Put aside all the work, worries, meetings, arguments before bedtime.
5. Find purpose in life
Everyone looks for a purpose and meaning in life that involves benefits for yourself, as well as others. Find a purpose to live, to feel good for yourself, or to feel needed. Finding a positive meaning is essential for brain health as it generates new cells and creates neural pathways. Engaging work, relationships, caring for a loved one, volunteering, caregiving, etc. gives you meaning and purpose.
6. Seek professional help
If you are making constant efforts to improve your mental health for a long time and still there is no sign of improvement, then it is time to seek professional help. If diagnosed with depression, take proper treatment until you feel light and optimistic.
7. Eat a healthy diet
Fatty food with hydrogenated oil, high preservatives, sugars, refined carbs, and drinks like caffeine, alcohol affects the mood adversely. Always eat healthy food rich in omega-3s, nuts such as cashews and almonds, flaxseeds, green and leafy vegetables, fruits rich in vitamin C. This will help to boost your mood.
8. Exercise regularly
We have heard that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind as both are intrinsically linked. Physical exercise releases endorphins that influence your mood, provide energy, relieve stress, and improves memory. A modest amount of physical activity like walking in a park, playing with a pet or your kind, dancing to your favourite music, and going by walk or cycling to an appointment can make a big difference to your mental health.
9. Make a face-to-face connection
Face-to-face time can be the mood buster if replaced with phone calls and social networking sometimes. Interaction with someone who is a good listener may help to lessen the chaos and find a solution. A good listener will never criticize or judge you. He will listen to the feelings you are trying to explain through words. Call a friend or an acquaintance, be a joiner, and do not be afraid to make new friends.
10. Learn to set boundaries
Setting boundaries is an important life skill. It is important to respect yourself and maintain your sanity. You must know what you are willing to tolerate, what you are not willing to tolerate, and what are your values while setting your boundaries. Pay attention to what is important for you and what is not before you set boundaries for yourself. Prioritize your work and work accordingly. You will then be able to manage the important things in your life. You can set boundaries around things like politics, toxic people, and social media, etc.
11. Practice self-care
Loving yourself before someone else is the most important thing. Self-care is just not about cleaning and decorating yourself. It is the ability to find yourself and live in your essence. Figure out in exploring the things which always keep you happy and engaged. Be it dancing, painting, singing, or anything else. Love yourself, and the world will love you. Go on adventures, explore every mile, and feel connected with nature.
12. Limit yourself from using social media
On one hand, you may find some relevant information on social media. On the other hand, you may feel overloaded with it. There are many ways to use social media, but one must go for the most effective way. Read positive news and feedbacks to avoid fear-mongering rhetoric. Stay informed but do not bombard yourself with the same thing.
Conclusion
Hard days come, but they do not stay. Try to normalize yourself as much as you can during those days. You are not alone in this world. Try until you succeed but do not break yourself. As sunrise conquers the darkness, your tough days will be conquered by the happy ones. Do not be afraid to seek help as there are people around you who care.
Do not think about the unrealistic world and ask yourself if your problems and worries are realistic. Get emotional support and accept other’s solutions. Adore the presence of things and people you love. More than 1/4th of the population struggle with mental health, and with the pandemic, many people are in crisis. At present, caring and getting care is all that we can do. Spend quality time with your family, children, pets, friends, and neighbours. Sanitize yourself physically and mentally. In the end, it is each one of us who must fight and win.
Co-author: Shraddha Thuwal
Shraddha Thuwal is the author of the book “Let us Conquer over weakness”. She is a blogger and her work has been published in various anthologies. By writing, she aims to reach out to people, create awareness and create a positive impact globally.
