We give a lot of importance to our physical health which is wonderful considering that our body is the temple of our soul. Being physically healthy allows us to do our daily tasks with efficiency and be happy. We do exercises, yoga, try to eat healthy food and what not to be fit and look good. Moreover in case of any ailment we rush to get it treated asap. But do we give the same consideration to our mental health? In most cases the answer is no. We do nothing to remain mentally healthy and we even do not get the required treatment in case of any problem which is really alarming and disheartening. Our mental health and physical health are both correlated, any affect on one can lead to effect on another.
As said by Abraham Lincoln ‘People are just as happy as they make their mind to be’. Now the question arises what does it mean to be mentally healthy? To be mentally healthy means that we are both emotionally and psychologically fit. It means that we are able to cope with stress and be rational and calm in adverse situations. Moreover the way we handle things, the way and type of decisions we make, the state of mind we are in even during our day to day tasks is all included in mental health. If we are mentally healthy it means we are at peace within ourselves but if we feel fear, anxiety, sadness, frustration or anger even on trivial issues then we can safely say that our mind is not completely healthy. It is ok to feel these negative emotions once in a while but if we are constantly troubled by such things then it is time to take some measures for our mental health. The following steps can be taken to ensure that our mind is hail and hearty:
Acknowledgement : The first and most important step is to acknowledge that you need help. The help can be from yourself, from your friends or doctors depending upon the need and situation and you are the only one who can correctly diagnose the issue. Most of the time we ignore our mental health considering it as just a phase that will pass. But we, within some corner of our mind and heart, are aware that it is more than that. If you are frustrated, angry or sad without any specific reason then it is better to acknowledge that you need help.
Be open : Whenever we are facing any physical ailment we tend to tell our near and dear ones and seek help immediately. If the ailment is small we just take some home cures but if it something we cannot handle we rush to doctors asap. But when it comes to mental issues we just try to hide our problems and show the world we are fit and fine. It is ok to not tell everyone but why do we hide the mental issues even from our most trusted ones or if I may add even from ourselves? That is because we are afraid to be judged. Mental sickness is a taboo topic. People may think we are mad and it is sometimes true that people may actually judge us. But we forget this is nothing to be ashamed of. More than 264 million people suffer from depression all over the world. I think the actual figure might be much more alarming as many people do not seek help. This age of cut throat competition, constant pressure from family and society to be perfect can cause stress to anyone. So there is nothing to hide. Be open to your friends and family. Talk to them and ask them to be more considerate of your feelings. Sometimes small changes and efforts from friends, family and of course ourselves can help us overcome this issue. It will certainly help you to be a bit relaxed and also help others to understand what and why you are feeling the negativity and in turn may save your relationships. Sharing will not only lighten your burden but your friends and family may help you in dealing with these emotions and also stand by you when you are seeking help from professionals if required.
Seek Help: If you are dealing with chronic depression or any other major psychological issue or you feel you are not able to cope with it on your own it is better to consult with a doctor as soon as possible to get help on right time. Delay in seeking help for such things can only worsen your mental state and would require increased time and efforts to solve the issues. The professionals’ expert guidance will be able to get your mind back on track.
Meditation : “Your goal is not to battle with the mind, but to witness the mind.”- Swami Muktananda. Meditating is hard especially for beginners. But it is harder when we try and search online what meditation is and how should we meditate. We are suggested to empty our mind of any thoughts or try to take our mind in different dimension or focus just on your breathing. For me it seems an impossible task because I am a restless soul and I know may people achieve this state and I salute them like literally. But I am unable to even consider doing it. What I do instead is just lay down and focus on some music I really love listening to. The music depends on my mood as I can’t make myself listen to just one kind of music daily. It could be instrumental, sound of ringing bells, sound of nature anything but without words to avoid stirring any emotions. I hope you got my point. So find your way of meditating if you can’t keep up with the actual one and If you can do the proper meditation then please be my guru.
Positive Affirmations : Yes I know everyone suggests that but it is because it is true. It may seem pointless repeating something you do not feel but it will eventually change the way you feel. Repeating same things daily rewires our brain to actually believe it but you have to be patient and consistent.
Keeping Journal: Keeping journal is the best way to vent out without the fear of being judged. So it will help you release your negative emotions. But that is not enough. Keep one positivity journal and try to write something positive each day. Start with small things and try to write as much as you can. When you will force your mind to search for positive things in a day instead of negative ones it will change your outlook. This way you will be able to start noticing good things first without even trying. Just think our brain automatically focuses on negative things even if we are trying not to because it has been wired this way. We need to rewire it and start from this little activity.
Live, Love and Laugh : Don’t just breathe. Live your life. Make time to do things you love, love people wholeheartedly and laugh as much as you can.
I hope you never need any of these tips and be happy always. But if you need me I am available on this site anytime. Share your problems on sharing sorrows blog anonymously and I will try to pour in suggestions and if I really can’t do that I will atleast be a good support.
Apoorva Yadav Kamboj
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