Experts have always stressed the importance of physical health to our overall well-being. But apart from it, overall health also means having a sound mental condition. Mental health, which includes a person’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being, determines how we relate to other people, handle stress, and make choices and decisions. Sound mental health is essential to every person regardless of age and status in life.
Experiencing mental health issues at some time in their lives, though, is fairly common among people. Not one person is immune to the problems that may lead to mental health issues. Taking certain precautionary measures to maintain mental health, though, is possible. These measures help make sure that a person can maintain a sound mental condition despite the many circumstances that can lead to mental health issues.
Several factors can affect a person’s mental health. These include personal factors, biological factors, social environment, physical environment, and economic environment. Personal factors refer to an individual’s lifestyle, childhood experiences, and self-esteem. Biological factors include those that are passed through genes or heredity. Physical environment factors include a person’s surroundings, the condition of the person’s home, and the quality of the neighborhood where the person resides.
While it may be impossible to act upon such factors, there are still many measures that can be taken to maintain overall mental health.
Keep Stress Levels Low
A small amount of stress can help people successfully perform their daily tasks and be productive. Too much-prolonged stress, though, can overwhelm and can increase a person’s risk of suffering from mental health problems. Some mental health issues that an individual can face due to so much stress include anxiety, depression, panic attacks, sleep problems, substance use problems, and muscle and body pains.
A person with mental health issues may show signs of memory problems, constant worrying about things, lack of self-esteem, low morale, irritability, unexplained fatigue, low libido, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure, to name a few. A stressed person may also become withdrawn socially and may start to neglect work or family responsibilities.
To combat stress, it is important to be physically active. Prioritizing things strategically can also help.
Maintain Financial Health
Whether we like it or not, our financial status influences how we go about our daily lives. A problem in the finances can lead to extreme stress, which can, in turn, lead to more problems, including mental health issues. Hence, maintaining financial health is a must. For instance, if a person is paying high mortgage rates on the property they have bought, they are more likely to suffer from stressful days of thinking about where to get the next amount for the monthly payment of the mortgage.
When the problem goes out of hand, the person can suffer from sleepless nights and other forms of symptoms related to extreme stress caused by the issues on mortgage payments. In this regard, the person is recommended to apply for mortgage refinancing or find other means to pay the monthly amortization as soon as possible so that they will stop feeling stressed and weighed down by the mortgage.
Practice a Good Lifestyle
A person’s lifestyle can determine his or her overall well-being. Exercising daily, eating only a healthy and well-balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and not drinking too much alcohol, soft drinks, coffee, tea, sodas, and other sugary drinks can lead to a healthier and happier life. Likewise, these healthy lifestyle practices can lead to a healthier mental condition.
Research supports this as a fact, and the World Health Organization encourages this practice to people around the world. Research also showed that a positive lifestyle could have an immense impact on depression and anxiety by reducing their symptoms and increasing life satisfaction. A good lifestyle has also been shown to lead to a higher perception of general mental health.
Apart from those mentioned above, maintaining a positive relationship around one’s social circle is also a factor that can lead to better mental health. Spending time with people, especially those who give only positive vibes, offer a sense of happiness and peace. Avoiding illicit drug use and other prohibited substances can also lead to better well-being and excellent overall mental health.
A person who is not suffering from mental health issues has meaningful social connections, has high self-esteem, and can better cope with the various ups and downs in life. They can cope better with whatever life brings them, even in the most stressful situations. So, it’s best to maintain a good mental state.
