How to Maintain Good Mental Wellness: Tips and Strategies
Mental health is a crucial aspect of a person’s overall well-being. It refers to a person’s psychological and emotional well-being, directly related to their behavior, thinking, and emotions. Mental health can affect a person’s quality of life, relationships, and ability to function in daily life. In recent years, mental health has been gaining more attention due to the increasing awareness of the impact of mental health issues on individuals, families, and society.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health refers to a person’s emotional and psychological well-being. It involves the ability to cope with stress, deal with emotions, and make decisions that are beneficial to oneself and others. Various factors, including genetics, environment, and lifestyle, can affect mental health.
Good mental health enables a person to function well daily, maintain healthy relationships, and positively contribute to society. On the other hand, poor mental health can lead to various mental health disorders, affecting a person’s quality of life, relationships, and ability to function in daily life.
Common Mental Health Disorders:
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders, affecting around 18% of the population worldwide. Anxiety disorders involve excessive and persistent worry or fear about everyday situations. Symptoms of anxiety disorders include panic attacks, social anxiety, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, affect around 10% of the population worldwide. These disorders have persistent sadness or extreme happiness, which can interfere with daily life.
Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. Depression can also cause physical symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, and changes in appetite.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by extreme mood swings, ranging from episodes of extreme happiness (mania) to episodes of extreme sadness (depression). Symptoms of bipolar disorder include irritability, excessive talking, and a decreased need for sleep during manic episodes. In contrast, depressive episodes may involve sadness, hopelessness, and guilt.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are a group of mental health disorders characterized by inflexible and maladaptive behavior patterns and thinking that can cause significant distress to the person affected. Examples of personality disorders include borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe mental health disorder that affects around 1% of the population worldwide. Symptoms characterize it, including delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, and abnormal behavior. Schizophrenia can affect a person’s ability to think, make decisions, and function daily.
Maintaining Good Mental Health:
Maintaining strong social connections can help to promote good mental health. Spending time with family and friends, participating in social activities, and joining support groups can help to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are risk factors for mental health disorders.
Regular physical activity can also promote good mental health. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood boosters that can help to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Engaging in physical activity can also help to improve self-esteem and reduce stress.
A healthy diet can also promote good mental health. A balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help provide the body with the nutrients it needs to function correctly, positively impacting mental health.
Getting enough sleep is essential for good mental health. Lack of sleep can lead to irritability, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating, increasing the risk of developing mental health disorders. Doctors recommend that adults sleep 7-9 hours each night to promote good mental health.
Practicing mindfulness can help to reduce stress and promote good mental health. Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment and accepting it without judgment. You can practice mindfulness through meditation, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques.
Seeking professional help is also crucial for maintaining good mental health. Therapy can provide a safe and supportive space to explore and address mental health issues. Therapy can also help to develop coping skills and strategies for managing symptoms of mental health disorders.
Avoiding substance abuse is vital for maintaining good mental health. Substance abuse can increase the risk of developing mental health disorders and worsen existing mental health conditions. It is essential to seek help if you are struggling with substance abuse.
Receiving combined Korean acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments help improve mental health. Korean acupuncture and herbal medicine holistically treat mental health issues. In traditional Eastern medicine, the body and mind are not separate. They influence each other as wholeness.
Mental health is an essential aspect of overall well-being. It is crucial to prioritize mental health and seek help if needed. Common mental health disorders such as anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, and schizophrenia can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, relationships, and ability to function in daily life. Maintaining good mental health involves the following:
- Maintaining strong social connections.
- Engaging in physical activity.
- Eating a balanced diet.
- Getting enough sleep.
- Practicing mindfulness.
- Seeking therapy.
- Avoiding substance abuse.
It is essential to recognize that mental health disorders are common and treatable. Seeking help from a mental health professional can provide a safe and supportive space to explore and address mental health issues. It is also vital to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and to promote mental health awareness and education in communities.
Overall, prioritizing mental health and seeking help when needed can lead to a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.
Dr. Kihyon Sohn, a Korean acupuncture and herbal medicine doctor in Beaverton, Oregon, provides adequate mental health treatment using combined Korean and herbal medicine granules.