Mental Health Awareness: How to Stay Strong
By Genevieve Cunningham
Unless you’ve ever been mentally unwell, you may not truly understand what the big deal is. You may have even been guilty of saying insensitive phrases to those suffering. Oh, you’re anxious? Just stop worrying. Oh, you’re feeling depressed and can’t get out of bed? Just make yourself. Yeah … if only it were that easy. Whether you know the struggles of mental illness firsthand or not, the truth is that mental troubles can strike anyone at anytime. The best way to fight it off and stay healthy is to get prepared. Take a look at these tips for keeping yourself mentally strong and getting prepared for any mental problems that may head your way.
Get a Therapist
Therapists are not only for those in the midst of a crisis. They’re actually incredibly beneficial for all people in all stages of life. They’re not going to force you to take medication or spill your guts about things you’re not ready to talk about. But, do you know what they will do? Listen. And sometimes, that’s all you really need. You need someone to hear you out, offer comfort and advice, and leave you alone to make your own choices. And then if a mental health crisis is nearing, you already have a trusted professional friend to get you through it.
Get Solid Friends
It’s really true that you become like the five people that you spend the most time with. We tend to attract others who are similar to us. And then this group of friends, of which you are a part, all lift each other up or bring each other down. If you want to stay mentally well, make sure that you are being lifted and are also lifting. If your friends are trouble, make some new ones. This one step helps you build a solid support group to make it through the tougher parts of life.
Set Some Goals
Many people begin to feel a bit mentally unstable when they don’t have anything to work toward or look forward to. In order to avoid this void in your life, make sure that you are constantly setting and achieving small goals. It might be to join a club, make a new friend, perform volunteer work, lose some weight … it doesn’t matter what it is. Just set some goals, stick to them, and the feeling of accomplishment will get you through a lot.
Your mental health is critical to your overall well-being and quality of life. When it suffers, everything in your life will suffer as a result. Get the help you need and get prepared by using these tips. With some preparation and perseverance, you can keep yourself mentally healthy and strong for a lifetime.