Many times when we hear the word well being mentioned, our thoughts go directly to taking care of our physical body. We rarely ponder on our mental health. Taking care of our minds is equally important to taking care of our bodies.
Mental Health Improves the Quality of Life
When we are free of depression, anxiety, excessive stress and worry, addictions, and other psychological problems, we are more able to live our lives to the fullest.
Peace of mind is a natural condition, and is available to everyone.
Mental health strengthens and supports our ability to:
Have healthy relationships
Make good life choices
Maintain physical health and well-being
Handle the natural ups and downs of life
Discover and grow toward our potential
Sourced from: http://www.ripsych.org/importance-of-mental-health
For you to be able to take good care of your mental faculty, you need to know exactly what it is all about. Mental wellbeing is not limited to happiness, it is a lot more.
What is mental wellbeing?
Sarah Stewart-Brown, professor of public health at the University of Warwick and a wellbeing expert, says: “Feeling happy is a part of mental wellbeing. But it’s far from the whole.
“Feelings of contentment, enjoyment, confidence and engagement with the world are all a part of mental wellbeing. Self-esteem and self-confidence are, too.
“So is a feeling that you can do the things you want to do. And so are good relationships, which bring joy to you and those around you.
“Of course, good mental wellbeing does not mean that you never experience feelings or situations that you find difficult,” says Professor Stewart-Brown. “But it does mean that you feel you have the resilience to cope when times are tougher than usual.”
Sourced from: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/improve-mental-wellbeing.aspx
Wso what are the steps you should take towards advancing your mnental wellbeing? First of all you will need to speak with your doctor so that they can be able to assess you. You also need to be a person who embraces the attitude of gratitude
1. Talk to your doctor.
The first initial step of any health transformation is to consult a medical professional about the appropriate steps to take. General physicians are able to offer depression screenings (in fact, some even recommend that they should be a requirement) and mental health consultations. They can then refer you to a clinician who is able to tailor to your specific needs.
2. Practice gratitude.
Life’s so much better when you’re acknowledging the bright side. Research suggests that expressing what you’re thankful for — from your dog to your favorite song on the radio — will improve your mental well-being. Looking for some suggestions? Here are 100 things many people forget to be grateful for on a regular basis.
3.Try meditation.
Meditation is no longer some New Age fad that’s too intimidating to try. The practice has a host of health benefits, from better concentration to — yep — improved mental well-being. There are multiple methods of meditation that offer varying degrees of investment. That being said, the practice doesn’t have to be complicated: Try just setting aside five minutes for meditation when you wake up or before you go to bed. You’ll likely either start or end your day on a positive note.
Sourced from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to-improve-mental-health_us_56684e10e4b0f290e52154ba
