LISBON - Sixty-five years ago, Mental Health America created May is Mental Health Month to raise awareness about mental illnesses and the importance of mental wellness for all.
"Minding Your Health," this year's theme, calls attention to strategies and approaches that help all Americans achieve wellness and good mental and overall health. The mind and body are intricately connected; there can be "no health without mental health." When people have good mental health, they deal better with what comes their way. Poor mental health can significantly harm a person's general health.
One factor that compromises a person's health is negative stress. Approximately 70 percent of Americans experience physical and non-physical symptoms of stress, but only 37 percent think they are doing very well at managing it. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people under chronic stress are prone to having a number of issues that affect their mental health, wellness, and quality of life. Some of these symptoms include digestive problems, headaches, sleeplessness, depression, anger and irritability, and more frequent and severe viral infections, such as the flu or common cold. These symptoms may lead to more serious health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other illnesses.
There are many healthy choices and steps that individuals can adopt to promote and strengthen mental health and overall health and well-being. A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. In addition to routine health checkups, a few practical tips to get people of every age on the path to wellness include a balanced diet, regular exercise, enough sleep, a sense of self-worth, development of coping skills that promote resiliency, emotional awareness, and connections to family, friends and the community.
Roughly one in five Americans has a treatable mental health condition; and just as we check our blood pressure and get cancer screenings, it's a good idea to take periodic stock of our emotional well-being. The results of a recent study indicate that everyone should get their mental health checked as often as they get a physical. Many doctors are routinely screening patients for general mental health by asking a series of questions about lifestyle, eating and drinking habits, and mental wellness.
According to Mental Health America, more than 40 million people suffer from anxiety disorders at any one time, regardless of the economy or other mainstream issues. For those prone to anxiety, there are a number of things you can do to help reduce stress and anxiety and enjoy life more.
Focus on your physical well-being. It's difficult to feel happy and optimistic when you are feeling bad. Eating properly, exercising and taking care of any physical ailments can relieve a lot of the tension that only exacerbates a difficult emotional period.
- Take your time when making decisions. Letting others rush you into making spur-of-the-moment decisions or making a commitment before you are ready can add additional stress to a changing situation. If others are rushing you, give them a deadline that is comfortable for you.
- Remain centered on those things over which you have control. Monitor your thinking so that you do not obsess over things you cannot control, such as the stock market, the weather and other people's feelings.
- Incorporate relaxation exercises in your daily routine such as meditation and deep breathing. According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, learning deep breathing techniques is one of the most powerful tools to fight growing anxiety and stress. Physical exercises that help to release endorphins in the system also should be included in a daily schedule to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Keep your regular appointments, especially with your mental health care providers. If you are seeing a therapist for your anxiety, you don't want to risk backsliding and adding even more stress to your life. The National Anxiety Foundation recommends that people who may have trouble paying for therapy treatments should find other ways to cut expenses rather than cutting out counseling.
Seek help if you find yourself so stressed out and anxious that you begin to consider escape through drugs or suicide. You may have a more serious disorder, such as bipolar disorder or depression, that may require medication and therapy.
Keep a journal and join online discussion groups through one of the interactive websites, such as Internet Mental Health, (www.mentalhealth.com) that offer assistance to those coping with from stress and anxiety.
For additional information call the Mental Health and Recovery Board at 330-424-0195 or visit our website www.ccmhrsb.org.