Importance of Mental Health and Stress Management

Mental health refers to your emotional and psychological well-being. Having good mental health helps you lead a relatively happy and healthy life. It helps you demonstrate resilience and the ability to cope in the face of life’s adversities.

Till now tension and anxiety played a significant impact on the imbalance of mental health but now other factors are also taking place in a disturbance in healthy mental health like quarantine and its effect on many people’s normal activities, habits, or livelihoods, loneliness, and depression levels. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our lives. Many of us face challenges that can be stressful, upsetting, and can have strong emotions in both adults and children. Public health measures such as social distancing are critical in preventing the spread of Covid-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely which can cause tension and worry.

Stress can affect all aspects of your life including your emotions, behavior, thinking ability, and physical health. People handle stress very differently so the symptoms of stress can vary. Symptoms can be vague and maybe the same as those caused by medical conditions like changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests and also physical reactions such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes. Symptoms can include worsening of chronic health problems and worsening of mental health conditions, insomnia, digestive problems, and reproductive issues can also be there.

Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress

Mental health is very important in every stage of life and in order to pursue a good mental health state, stress management becomes a very important factor. Effective stress management can lead to a happier, healthier, and productive life, and also small efforts can help you with it.

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. News can sometimes be depressing if watched too much and lead to depression causing an imbalance of mental health.
• A healthy and well-balanced meal is very important. Nutrition is about more than vitamins; it also includes fiber and healthy fats. Aim for a variety of colors on your plate. A healthy eating plan will include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products also a variety of protein foods such as seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), soy products, nuts, and seeds. Foods that are low in saturated fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
• Healthy eating is all about balance. You can enjoy your favorite foods, even if they are high in calories, fat, or added sugars. The key is eating them only once in a while and balancing them with healthier foods and more physical activity.
• Always try to make time for yourself. Try to do some other activities that you enjoy with learning new skills that will help you find your comfort. Try Meditation, it can give you a sense of calm, peace, and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health. And these benefits don’t end when your meditation session ends, it can help carry you more calmly through your day and may help you manage symptoms of certain medical conditions.
• One of the most important things you can do to reduce stress is to exercise. Exercising regularly has its own benefits. People who exercise regularly are less prone to suffer from anxiety. It also helps in enhancing your sleep quality and managing your body’s stress hormones. It also helps release endorphins, which are chemicals that improve your mood and act as natural painkillers which eventually help you feel more competent and confident in your body promoting mental well-being.
• Friends and relatives can provide you with social support to help you get through difficult situations. According to one study, spending time with friends and children helps women release oxytocin, a natural stress reliever. Having a pet can make you feel less stressed and happier. Interacting with animals may aid in the release of oxytocin. It also helps in relaxing you by giving you a purpose, keeping you busy, and offering companionship all of which are beneficial to anxiety reduction.
• Music has a highly soothing influence on the human body. Slow-paced instrumental music can aid in inducing relaxation in the body by lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones.

Written by: Charu Kutar (Instagram: @charu_2606)

Vociferous Writers (Instagram: @vociferouswriters)