adminDr Mazvita Machinga Mental Health
It’s the new year and you are resolving to make many healthy changes in your life, but in the process do not forget to make your mental health important too.
If in 2014 , you encountered various mental health issues and unmanageable stressful moments why not add on to your New Year’s resolution ?
The resolution to improve your mental health.
This is critical because there is no health without mental health.
Sound mental health is basis for all you do in your day to day life.
Unsound mental health means reduces overall concentration and productivity.
It reduces your ability to work efficiently, relax fully and enjoy life.
There isn’t anyone who couldn’t benefit from taking steps to improve their mental health.
Just as we can all benefit from a physical fitness program from time to time, mental health fitness is also important. You can ask, what types of activities should you include on your mental health 2015 New Year’s resolution?
There is no one answer to this but the following are some important things you need to consider.
First, say positive. Adapt positive stress management techniques. This is important because unmanaged stress can eat away at your well-being.
Positive thinking just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. You think the best is going to happen, not the worst ( Mayo Clinic).
No resolutions would be complete without considering the negative effects of your own thought patterns and how you self-sabotage your life.
In fact, we are the most potent cause of our own happiness or unhappiness, based on our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves and the world in which we live and the people in our lives. Another thing is that you should get rid of mental clutter.
Mental overload from constantly stirring problems over and over in your mind is common.
Having too many issues to deal with at once, or even just one big taxing issue, can easily throw your mental status into a state of disarray, overreaction and hyperactivity.
The end result is that you may have feelings of anxiety, restlessness, fatigue, physical tension, and problems with eating and sleeping.
So in 2015, get it out of your head by talking to a trusted or professional person. You need to have mental space to actually do something constructive about important problems that are concerning you.
It is important that you do not underestimate the value of getting your problems “out in the open to someone you trust and believe in.”
Planning well enhances your mental health – don’t wait until the last minute plan ahead.
Developing a support network is key to sound mental health.
Friends, family and colleagues can all help you talk to them about what you’re planning to do and tell them how they can help.
Psychotherapy helps you change the way you think about experiences and reduce stress and anxiety.
Another important factor is that you need to treat failure as a small setback and never give up trying things differently. Learn from the setback: what things do you need to do differently? What needs to be avoided next time?
Don’t obsess over small setbacks it won’t help you achieve your goal. Start fresh the next day.
Don’t give up! Take care of your spirit and remain focused while being flexible also. Beth McHugh a colleague in mental health highlights a couple of important things for sound mental health. Get enough sleep there has to be a commitment to better sleep habits. Poor sleep underlines and exacerbates many health problems, both physical and mental.
As the mind/body is a connected entity, improving the mechanics of your sleep will have a corresponding positive effect on your mental health.
If you have problems in sleeping well seek medical help and psychotherapy. In the same way an overhaul of your eating regime will also contribute to improved mental health and mood stability. Cutting back on refined sugars, caffeine, and simple carbohydrates will result in feelings of well-being with less depression, mood and anxiety swings associated with poor diet. Another resolution worth considering is removing, or minimising contact with toxic people in your life. Toxic persons can range from people who mentally drain you with their constant negativity to people who actually cause you physical and emotional harm. Make this year the year that you begin to choose who is beneficial to your happiness and who is not worthy of your friendship or association. When you are able to change our own roadmaps, you can really say at the end of 2015 that you have achieved your New Year’s mental health resolutions! Most importantly , getting help for yourself or for someone you know and love is key to sound mental health. Get professional help if you need it , do not delay.
Help is always available .
Remember , a stitch in time saves nine. Preventive maintenance is preferable than delaying intervention.
Wish you a Happy New year and sound mental health throughout the year.
Dr. Mazvita Machinga Ph.D. is a trained and qualified Psychotherapist in Mutare who offers professional counseling and psychotherapy. For more information on stress management strategies and coping with various other mental health issues contact [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>, or call 0771 754 519.
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