Understanding Mental Health: Nurturing Our Inner Well-Being

What is mental health?

In our previous blog, we looked at what health is. Although we didn’t go in too deep, we looked at the various body parts of health. So, how can we define mental health? In your own words, what do you think mental health is? (Leave your answer in the comment section)

Just like our heading suggests, mental health is a state in which our mental well-being is top-notch. A healthy mental condition that allows us to handle any stress that life may throw at us, a condition that enables us to learn and work perfectly. Life has multiple ups and downs, more so as an adult, if I just say “handle stress”, that’s quite ambiguous. Allow me to rephrase it, “A mental condition that allows us to handle stress impeccably…” That’s mental health.

Let’s delve into the fleshy part of mental health, why is it vital? What are some of the misconceptions associated with it? How do we maintain it in this ideal state?

The Importance of Mental Health

How many times do you tend to your physical health? This is a question most of us could answer very comfortably. However, if a minute tweak is made, this question becomes a bit harder. How many times do you tend to your mental health? This is the question of the day. I’ll presume that most of us don’t tend to our mental health because we don’t have the knowledge or we are not in a capacity to do so. This is true on very many accounts, as we will see a bit later on what causes the mental instability.

Our minds are intricate landscapes, they follow what nature wills, and we don’t have the ability to control how we came to exist. A great deal of it was swayed by genetics. While environment and locale play a part, so do our person-specific life experiences. That being said, why is it imperative that we take care of our mental health? Here’s why:

Emotional pliability: Normal psychology states that human beings will always be emotional beings and in as much as one may try to hide their emotions, that doesn’t mean they are not present. With mental health, we are equipped with the muscle to withstand the adversity of emotional attacks and challenges. Mental health is the foundation of emotional resilience which in turn is the cornerstone of our bounce-back-ability from stressful setbacks.

Productivity and creativity: Take a scenario with two gardens, one is very well kept, and the soil is rich and watered perfectly. The other one is sandy and stony, it’s dry and unwelcoming. If we were to plant hibiscus in both gardens, what do you think would happen? Simple, right? Our minds are like the garden, the state of the mind can be equaled to the state of the garden. The flowers are the thoughts generated by the mind. A healthy mind will foster creative thoughts which boost productivity. They blossom like the hibiscus in the perfect garden. With a stable mental state, we allow our potential to fully fledge and our minds become home to the greatest of ideas.

Physical health connection: What is the difference between the mind and the brain? Are we controlled by the mind or the brain? Well, some may argue that the two can be used interchangeably but I beg to differ. The brain is the anatomical organ in charge of controlling the body via neurons and all it entails and the mind is the human part of being alive. You cannot touch the mind as you can the brain. This is open for debate but I think the mind controls the brain. You might be wondering why I’m bringing in all this information, let me explain, the mind is the human part of our existence and the brain is the physical part. If the mind is sick, it will be seen in the physical being and to treat the mind, we treat the body (brain). Think of it with the example of anxiety as a mental disorder.

What signs does a person with anxiety disorders show? Just to mention a few: irritation and restlessness, heart palpitations and increases heart rate, sweating, trembling, insomnia, panic, etc. How will the psychiatrists treat the person? They will deal with the body, cool the person down, and afterward refer them to a therapist for mental rehabilitation to prevent relapse. Does this justify my point that the mind affects the body? Let’s take care of our mental health, it is not physical but it can infiltrate the physical.

Common Misconceptions

We live in a free world and everyone has the freedom to have a take on any topic and mental health has not been an exemption. Let’s dispel some of the misconceptions that revolve around this delicate health sector.

It is a sign of weakness: We talked about health-seeking behavior in our previous article, how often do we seek help for mental health? I understand it is not an easy feat, the stigma that comes with it is unavoidable. Seeking help for mental health takes courage to acknowledge the struggle and still push through with it.

Just snap out of it: Most of us think that mental issues have switches that we can just hit and switch between on and off. Well, don't I have news for you? Mental health conditions are not a matter of willpower! They are complex struggles that take time to resolve. They require professional assistance, both physical (psychiatric) and mental (therapy) which will cumulatively offer empathy, support, and understanding needed to jumpstart the journey to ideal mental health.

Only the extreme of cases matter: This can be ranked the most harmful of all the misconceptions. One may overlook the minor stresses claiming that they are not threats to mental health but remember that we must crawl before we can walk and in the bargain, we must walk before we can run. The same applies to the stresses that will build up into a nightmare. Mental health matters at all levels, from the daily stresses to the severest of conditions. Seeking health is crucial.

Practical Steps for Maintaining Mental Well-Being

This article would not be of much use if it did not offer any guide whatsoever on how we can handle mental health issues. Most of the cases of mental instability are normally minor, they are the ones we can solve easily with sound social health. However, keeping them to yourself can be the beginning of the end. Remember, we are emotional beings, and being emotional runs hand in hand with being social beings. Ultimately, we are emotional social beings.

How do we maintain mental health?

Self-care: Take precedence in your sanity. President self-care. Give yourself the best, get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, exercise to keep fit, and engage in recreational activities that bring joy to you as an individual. Be in harmony with yourself, and give yourself royal treatment. Your body is sacred maintain it as such and the sanctity will spread to the mind.

Talk about it: This can make or break. A healthy social circle will work wonders in restoring your mental health and the divergent will aggravate the condition. To whom you tell your concerns requires high emotional and social intelligence as it can come with encouragement or stigma. Breaking the silence is one of the best ways to deal with mental issues but it requires you to have a reliable and empathetic circle. The last thing one needs is getting laughed at or made fun of because of their mental health problems. Family or friends would be the ideal place to begin.

Professional Support: If you are struggling with mental health issues, it is never too early to seek professional help. Go to therapy, and see a psychiatrist. Counseling and medication can offer a smooth and steady ride back to a healthy mental state. We have just mentioned talking about the problem, some of us may prefer to speak to a complete stranger rather than friends or family. The therapist can be your comfort and they’ll hold your hand in the entire process. Health-care seeking!

Mindfulness and Meditation: Being mindful entails living in the moment. Being present. Meditation is simply scanning and clearing your mind to boost focus keeping you calm and composed. You’ll be amazed at how well a calm mind can handle stress. However you want to do this is entirely up to you. Living in the moment and taking charge of your thoughts will go a long way in maintaining a sane mind. You should try it once in a while and if it works for you, you’re welcome!

Socialize: I do not think there is a self-sufficient human being. We all need each other, we have family, and those who don’t have family have friends (this is just an ideal situation). We should normalize reaching out to family, friends, or support groups to help us maintain mental health. Being lonely can exacerbate mental health issues.

Conclusion

Mental Health has been an underdog for so long. We need to bring to light the importance of mental health and sensitize its maintenance. Give it the same attention as our physical health. Now that we have understood some of its importance, misconceptions, and the proactive steps we can take to maintain it hale. In our next blog, we shall finalize the causes and the various types of mental issues in a simplified language. Conjointly, we can break the stigma and support each other. Let us nurture our inner well-being.

Have you learned something new? If so, What? Don’t answer me, that’s for you. Meditate.

Remember, you are not alone. Seek help, be compassionate to yourself, and prioritize your mental health journey. 🌟