As a mental health therapist, I appreciate the concept of “mental health wellness.” The word “wellness” strikes me as hopeful and implies the focus is on well-being and striving for the maintenance of long-term healthy behaviors. There are so many strategies that can support a person in better managing their mental health.
Inspired by Psych Hub’s “Mental Health Wellness Tips” YouTube video, let’s dig deeper into the following mental health wellness strategies!
By focusing solely on the negative aspects of life, the positive emotions, thoughts, relationships, and experiences that exist can easily pass us by. Thus, acknowledge and show appreciation for the positive aspects of life as this can lead to more balanced thinking.
I have observed clients gain a sense of joy, comfort, and peace by acknowledging people or things they feel grateful for.
Gratitude is “a sense of thankfulness and happiness in response to receiving a gift, either a tangible benefit (e.g., a present, favor) given by someone or a fortunate happenstance (e.g., a beautiful day)” (APA Dictionary of Psychology).
There are various ways to cultivate gratitude:
There is so much healing that can happen by having and maintaining positive, warm relationships with others. In contrast, a lack of social connection can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Loneliness is associated with a variety of mental health (e.g. depression) and physical health disorders (e.g. coronary heart disease, hypertension) (Mushtaq et al., 2014).
How can relationships with others be strengthened?
Maintaining physical health is so important for your mental health and overall well-being. When thinking about how the mind and body are intertwined, consider the effects of stress. For example, stress can cause anxiety and overwhelmed feelings (impacts on the mind) and lead to headaches or muscle tension (effects on the body).
Here are a few strategies to maintain or improve physical health:
Thank you for taking the time and effort to dive deeper into various mental health strategies. This is a small, but important step towards prioritizing your most valuable asset- you! It is important to keep in mind that although mental health strategies are wonderful tools, they are not a substitute for professional mental health services. Read on to learn more.
Mental health services such as counseling and psychiatry can help you or your loved one improve your well-being.
If you or your loved one are in crisis, 911 can be contacted for medical emergencies and 988 can be contacted for mental health emergencies.
For a non-emergency situation, it is best to seek professional medical and/or mental health care. If you have a positive relationship with your primary care physician or other physicians, ask them for a referral for mental health services. If your child is seeing a pediatrician, ask them where they can go to receive mental health services. It may also be helpful to consult with your insurance provider to determine which mental health services they will provide coverage for.
References
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022, February 3). Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2021, March 24). Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987
Mushtaq, R., Shoib, S., Shah, T., & Mushtaq, S. (2014). Relationship Between Loneliness, Psychiatric Disorders and Physical Health ? A Review on the Psychological Aspects of Loneliness. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research: JCDR, 8(9), WE01-WE04. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4225959/
VandenBos, G. R. (Ed.). (2007). APA Dictionary of Psychology. American Psychological Association. https://dictionary.apa.org/gratitude
(2021, August 14). Giving thanks can make you happier. Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/