May is Mental Health Awareness month. I want to take this opportunity to help you do a self check-up. Without a strong mind, we oftentimes feel afraid, weak and sad. Sometimes, emotions make us feel as if we cannot do anything. If you have felt this way, or feel that way now, I invite you to read this article and know that you are not alone.
Living with a mental disorder can make life seem almost impossible to handle. Living with someone with a mental disorder can make life confusing, hard and lonely. Sometimes it seems like the only way to cope is by escaping through substance. If you feel like this, you are not alone. I hope to help you on your mental health journey in this article.
I felt hopeless and lonely. I couldn’t talk to anyone about the way I felt. I was always quiet. When I finally graduated school and became an attorney, much of what was mentally untreated started to surface.
How did I find solutions to my problems? I could not do it alone. I encourage you to talk to anyone, a friend, family member, paid professional (like a therapist) about the emotions you feel. Overcoming how we feel can be done by talking through it. It is ok to feel sad, mad, angry, upset, jealous, guilty. If you can recognize the feeling and understand why you feel that way, that is step one.
The second solution to improving mental health is surrounding yourself with positivity. If you live with someone or are around people who breathe negativity, disengage yourself from them. It will only bring you down if you stay around people without aspirations or ability to see light at the end of the tunnel.
I would also suggest doing things that would make you feel good from the inside out. If we look confident, it can change how we feel on the inside. Eating right, exercising and taking the time to get ready for your day is so important. COVID created an era of not leaving the house or getting dressed the way we used to for work. Don’t lose yourself and always keep you as your main priority.
Quick and Easy Ideas on how to Improve Mental Health
- Check in with yourself everyday. Are you feeling happy? Sad? Upset? If so, ask why? Understand and appreciate your emotions.
- Drink plenty of water. I suggest at least 125 ounces of water. It hydrates your body and brings clarity to your mind. It makes us physically glow and improves our skin.
- Eat right. Try to incorporate two raw fruits and raw vegetables in your day. Raw means uncooked. That helps retain the nutrients. I love broccoli, tangerines, banana, cucumbers.
- If you feel an emotion that overwhelms you, remember, breathe. Give yourself a second and tell yourself, you will get past this temporary feeling and focus on that.
- Exercise! It releases natural endorphins. It is the most organic way to improve mental health. Exercise is also a great way to naturally get rid of stress and transform strong emotions into useful energy.
A few years ago I lost my father and I felt so alone and so confused. I was left with so much weight on my shoulders. I didn’t know how to express my emotions to my partner or my family. Holding it all in just made me a different person and I hated myself. I ultimately destroyed my relationship and I was in a deep depression and I didn’t know how to handle it. It was the darkest time of my life, but I knew I had to beat this for the people I loved and for myself. With help, self love, and lots of hard work, I was able to overcome this. It took a long time, but I had plenty of it. I’m now mentally and physically better than I have been in a long time and if Im able to beat this, anyone can. These are really great tips on improving your mental health. Thank you guys for this and everything you guys are doing.
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss – I understand that pain. I lost my father in January of 2019 and it still affects me. I think grief does not necessarily go away, we just have to learn how to live around it. Thank you for sharing your real experience with us. I’m grateful for platforms like this where we can be vulnerable, find support, and know that we are not alone in our pain.
It is great you were able to recognize your pain, feel it, and learn how to cope. It’s never an easy journey and that’s why The Art Spread is here. I hope you check back in and find more comfort and inspiration from what TAS can offer.
Those are all really great tips for improving mental health! One thing that worked really well for me and helped get my anxiety under control was Hypnotherapy. It really got to the root of where my anxiety was stemming from and helped bring me a lot of clarity. I worked with Nancy Jaffar at Evolution Hypnotherapy located in Dearborn, MI. I highly recommend it for anyone who is seriously dealing with crippling anxiety like I did myself. It’s definitely worth a try, as it provides a more “in-depth” look into where the issues may be stemming from while providing a more long term solution for any mental health issues.
Thank you Mateo and Rawan. I loved and implemented your ideas. Yoga and getting out of the house is so important. Even briefly. Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Thank you for sharing your experience with mental health. I think the biggest way to cope with this is to do what you’re doing, share about it. It only worsens with silence. I find ways to express myself through art. When I feel too scattered to paint, I turn to yoga to focus my energy on the relationship between my mind and body. Yoga with Adriene is my go-to YouTube channel! Give it a try – she caters to all levels of yogis and reminds us to smile throughout the practice.
I really enjoyed these tips from other commenters as well. Great article!
Speaking from personal experience, taking care of your physical health has a massive impact on your mental health. Getting up and out of the house to workout, even if it is just for 15 minutes, can have a substantial impact on the rest of your day! Well written with great advice!
Thanks Prakhar! Always feel free to reach out with more great ideas or questions!
Wow such an amazing article!!! I agree with everything you said and it’s such an amazing outlet that you have created. Personally for me, I find meditation helps me with relieving anxiety, dysfunction, and wide variety of emotions. I have been able to quiet my mind so much more with breathing exercises and meditation. Glad you were able to share this!!