Mental health disorders can impact your overall health. Do you know how to recover from a mental disorder?
Mental health is increasingly becoming a matter of concern worldwide. According to the latest statistics shared by WHO*, one person in eight worldwide lives with a mental illness.
In the case of a physical disease, people are aware of the treatment to be taken, but mental health is always ignored. People do not take mental health seriously, so they continue to live with mental disorders.
Two factors cause ignorance towards mental health; firstly, people simply do not accept that they are not keeping well mentally. Secondly, they do not know what is the way ahead or how to overcome a mental disorder.
American Hospital Association (AHA) observes May as mental health awareness month every year. This is done to raise awareness about mental well-being and to reduce the stigma around mental illness amidst the growing number of people suffering from mental health issues.
Here are five things about mental health that you should know.
1. What does mental health mean?
Mental health refers to our ability to react and deal with different situations; in simple terms, it means how sound we are under stressful circumstances. Our mental well-being is directly proportional to our emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Being mentally sound is crucial at all stages of our life, be it childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.
2. Why is mental well-being important?
Physical and mental health are equally important for our overall well-being. There must be a good balance between both the physical and mental state. If not, one condition may lead to or worsen the other. For instance, chronic health conditions may result in mental stress. Similarly, mental illnesses like depression may increase the risk of heart disease or diabetes.
3. Can mental health change over time?
Yes. Our mental health is very similar to our physical health. When we get viral fever, it is due to several external and internal factors. In the same way, our mental well-being may get affected by different situations we experience. Factors like work-related stress, the tension in relationships, and not being able to cope with self-expectations may impact our mental well-being for a transitional phase. With the passage of time and positive development, we may recover.
4. What are the causes of mental illness?
The reason behind mental illness may vary from person to person, depending upon their personal experiences. Several factors that may contribute to mental illness are
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Unpleasant incidents from the past, such as physical abuse, emotional trauma, or personal loss
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Emotional trauma that occurs due to underlying health conditions
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Use of excessive alcohol or drugs
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Feeling left out or isolated
5. How can you improve your mental health?
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Talking your heart out when you are under mental pressure is important.
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Surround yourself with positivity; a positive environment is good for your mental health. Avoid toxic people.
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Build up a network of people with whom you feel like-minded and happy.
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Keep yourself engaged with things you like to do, and learn new skills.
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Stay physically active, as this will not only improve your physical fitness but enhance your mental wellness too.
With our lives getting digitized day by day, we tend to miss tiny things that may be joyful for us and others around us. It is important to value the time, resources, and people we have in our life. Be kind to yourself and others. As you never know what the other person is going through. Talking helps!
Mental illness grows in silence; therefore, keep a check on yourself and the people around you, as silence may be killing someone’s mental peace around you.
*Data source: https://www.who.int/
