Maintaining Good Mental Health
Most people travel through life
without giving mental health a second thought. While making annual visits
to a physician's office for a check-up or to a dentist to maintain healthy
teeth is routine, what can be done to maintain good mental health?
Mental health depends on several factors, some of them beyond a person's control.
But there is a lot that can be done to remain mentally healthy.
Self-Esteem
| Stress | Physical Health
Growing Older | If Mental Illness
Occurs | What Else To Do
Self-Esteem
How people look at themselves has a lot to do with how they think, feel, and
act. If a person's self image is positive, then he or she feels confident
in the ability to achieve set goals and to deal with life's occasional problems.
There is satisfaction in achieving those goals, which helps to improve performance
and to form healthy and lasting relationships with other people.
- Building positive self-esteem cannot be accomplished overnight, but can begin immediately.
- Be honest by recognizing both strengths and faults.
- Be willing to try to improve by believing that faults can be overcome and strengths can be developed.
- Strive to make the most of abilities while avoiding the pressure brought on by not recognizing limitations.
- Set goals. Avoid being compared with others.
Stress
Some stress in life is not only natural, but necessary. It helps the mind
and body prepare for and meet challenges. Stress increases the heart rate
and breathing, rushes adrenalin to the muscles, and enhances mental alertness.
But too much stress can be harmful, especially if it remains after the challenge
has subsided. It can lead to ulcers, heart disease, depression, and anxiety.
Remaining mentally healthy requires learning to cope with stress.
- Learn to avoid unnecessary stress by avoiding situations that cause it.
- Organize available time to do what needs to be done.
- Talk with other people and don't keep problems and anger bottled up inside.
- Learn to relax.
Physical Health
The old saying that a healthy mind depends on a healthy body is true. Feeling
good about oneself is easier when physically fit.
- Don't abuse alcohol or other drugs.
- Stop smoking.
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Control weight.
Growing older
Older people are more susceptible to situations that can lead to mental illness.
These include loss of friends or loved ones, loss of income or livelihood
and the independence that went with it, and loss of physical health and dignity.
Some of these losses are unavoidable, but there are things that can be done
to remain mentally healthy in the later years.
- Set new goals
- Adapt to changes in your lifestyle, in society, and among friends.
- Find something enjoyable to do and do it.
- Don't neglect physical health.
- Make the necessary changes.
- Be realistic and acknowledge that everyone grows old.
If Mental Illness Occurs
Despite the best efforts to prevent mental illness, it still occurs. The causes
may be physical changes in the brain, genetic factors present since birth,
or outside factors beyond anyone's control. Fortunately, most mental illnesses
can be treated successfully and the person returned to a full and productive
life.
Learn about mental illness and its warning signs. Prompt treatment can avert
more serious problems.
What
Else To Do
People with a mental illness often face the stigma attached by society to
mental illness. This stigma causes discrimination against people with a mental
illness in employment, housing, health care, and an ability to buy health
insurance. By learning more about mental illness and the effectiveness of
treatment, this discrimination can end, removing the stigma that acts as a
barrier to successful treatment.
