Friendly Mental Health Checks
By Rachel Shouse
It's important to stay up-to-date with your friends and family's lives. While mental health is gaining an amazing amount of awareness, so many still think it's all in your head. That surely doesn't help the one going through hard and/or confusing times. Checking to see how your loved ones are feeling, what their daily habits are like, and offering help and support are all great ways to help them through rough times.
Why Feelings Matter
There is a lot of shame revolving around mental health. Those who suffer from mental health conditions didn't ask for it nor do they want it. While a good friend will always listen and cheer you on when good things happen, being mindful of their mental state wouldn't go amiss.
A mental illness has quite a few symptoms, but there are times when close friends and family notice a change before the person themselves does. You may notice someone seeming irritable really often, problems sleeping, feeling sad or anxious more frequently, and more. Some people may be really self-aware and notice the problem, but if they don't, that's where friends are needed.
Daily Habits Have an Effect on Your Mental Health
There have been a multitude of studies done on mental health and how to help or cure many conditions. While some may be hereditary and unavoidable, there are other habits that surely aren't benefiting you. Living a sedentary lifestyle, not drinking enough water, eating a poorly-balanced diet, smoking, drinking, and more are all capable of worsening mental illness.
While this may seem unrelated, maintaining a healthy self-care routine surely could help. Mental health experts of all areas recommend that you take time for yourself. This may be scary to some, but it's important. The better care you put into your own body, the better you may feel. While this isn't a cure-all, this new habit could have a drastic impact on your mental state.
Offer Help and Support
If you or someone you love is going through these very issues, be there to help. Offer to prepare some healthy snacks and meals for them and/or their family. Ask if they'd like to get together and go for a walk. See if you can help them back into the things and activities they once enjoyed.
It may take time as different conditions carry different severities. One may experience one symptom in an extreme way while someone else may feel low levels of all the symptoms. It really depends on the person, their brain chemistry, lifestyle, and genetics. There may be times when your help is welcomed and there may be times where they become insulted. Just do what you can and rest knowing you were a good friend.
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