The path to good Mental Health

The word ‘mental health’ is associated with our everyday activities in life and our general behavior. It is amidst these activities that we do, we have to maintain a state of well-being. This term in psychology refers to an ability to manage stress in a better way, and is defined as “a state of happiness and contentment, with low levels of distress, overall good physical and mental health and outlook, or good quality of life.”- APA dictionary of Psychology 

Physical health has always been our top priority as we are well-informed about the ailments and can see the symptoms that contribute either directly or indirectly to it, however, mental health isn’t considered important nor is it analyzed in detail. This is due to the lack of information on mental well-being and its symptoms are often ignored until they manifest into something physical and remain untreatable.

It is important that we treat mental health with the utmost care too and become aware of the symptoms that contribute to the challenges we face as they directly influence our physical health as well. A mental health challenge such as anxiety or depression combines the effects of helplessness and succumbs to changing moods that weigh people down and prevent them from carrying on with their regular activities.

When faced with a challenging mental health situation, it needs to be our priority to slow down and pay attention to the minute symptoms that seem to stop us from being ourselves and follow this simple path to good mental health:

Firstly, we need to know ourselves to the extent of finding the trigger that leads to the mental health challenge and then practice slow breathing techniques that place one in the present moment in time, so we are aware of the surrounding by defocusing on the event or thing that brings out the mental health challenge as a second step. This step is followed by facing the challenge with help from a therapist or through slow-paced steps to avoid the negative emotions that arise out of the situation.

These basic steps will help when we are face to face with a situation that triggers the particular symptoms but, if they prolong for more time over the years, it can become an endearing task and must be tackled by seeking professional help.