Categories: Lifestyle

How To Improve Your Mental Health – A 10 Step Process You Can Try

Taking care of your mental health is important. It’s always a good idea to be in the right frame of mind. If you find yourself in a poor mental state, getting help will be your best option.

There is no shame in seeking help. New Waters Recovery will give you the right treatment options, if needed. To learn more about New Waters Recovery, visit their website.

If you are diagnosed with a mental disorder, make sure you have a treatment plan and follow it regularly. Let’s take a look now at the following ten steps below.

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Take Care Of Yourself Physically

Your physical health is just as important as your mental health. Believe it or not, the two go hand in hand. Work out on a regular basis, drink water each day, and get a good night’s sleep.

You may want to get rid of any substances you may be using such as drugs or alcohol. If you smoke, you should consider quitting. The better you feel physically, your mental health will improve as well.

Place Value On Yourself

When it comes to yourself, you should place a good amount of value. This means getting rid of the negative self-talk and thoughts. You should replace this by respecting yourself more.

Be kind to yourself and do something that you love and enjoy. You can even take it a step further and learn something new. Take a cooking class or learn a new language.

Give Back To The Community

Giving back in the form of a donation or volunteering your time can make you feel better. It’s a good thing knowing that you can help others. Plus, it will be an opportunity to meet new people.

These people can become your new friends. They may also be part of your support system in times of need. You can spend a weekend volunteering at a food bank or do something that will benefit the community.

Be Around Positive People Instead Of Negative Ones

Needless to say, negative people can harm your mental health. On the contrary, people who are positive and supportive should be the ones you can surround yourself with. These can be members of your family, friends that enjoy being around you, or meeting new people.

If you are interested in meeting new people, there are so many ways. Take a class, join a club, or even go to a support group meeting on a regular basis. If you are dealing with a mental disorder, there are support groups that may be available (especially ones that may focus on a specific disorder you are dealing with).

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is great for those who want to calm their mind. You can practice meditation, prayer, or even regular breathing exercises. Whatever you’ll choose, it can help calm your mind and make you feel less stressed.

Regular mindfulness will help you become more aware of things. You’ll be aware of how you feel, the environment you’re in, and can help you become more spiritual. You don’t need to be spiritual or even religious to practice mindfulness.

Starting out, you can do a simple five minute exercise where you can breathe in and out. While you do this, you can focus on the breath itself. If you notice any thoughts, acknowledge them and continue to focus on breathing.

Avoid Substances

Drug and alcohol abuse is likely if you are dealing with poor mental health. You may indulge in large amounts in an effort to cope with the stress and pain. For this reason, self-medicating should not be the best option.

It’s important that you avoid substances altogether. This can exacerbate your mental health issues. They may make your symptoms more intense.

Set Goals And Follow Them

To keep your mind off of negative things, you may want to set goals that you can easily achieve. You can spend time bringing yourself closer to getting the job done. You can shoot for the stars, but be realistic about them.

Once you achieve your goals, you can feel great knowing that you’ve accomplished them. You’ll feel more positive and feel better about yourself. The greater question is: what will these goals accomplish?

What are you trying to achieve? Better health? Or something else?

Do Something New

You may be doing things that might feel like the same old, same old. Maybe it’s a sign that you can try and do something new. If you like being outdoors, see if you can learn something new like starting or maintaining a garden.

Learn something you’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t have the chance. Do something that you never thought you’d find yourself doing. Like the goals you achieve, you’ll feel better knowing that you’ve done something good for yourself.

Handle Stress In A Better Way

Stress can happen. It can be unavoidable at times. In the event of those moments, you can find healthier ways to cope.

This can include practicing mindfulness exercises. If you have time, find a space where you can be alone and perform breathing exercises. Don’t let it get to you and find ways to keep calm.

Refrain from using substances to self-medicate. If the stress carries on through the day, you can journal it. Talk about what may have triggered it and what you can do in the future to stress less.

Get The Help You Need

Seeking help will be your best bet in improving your mental health. As we have said before, there is no shame in getting it when you need it. You’re stronger than you realize when you want to talk to someone who understands what you’re going through.

You can get it online 24 hours a day 7 days a week through Betterhelp or similar websites. Or you can talk to a mental health provider nearest you.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or considering it, contact the National Suicide Help Line at 988.