Mental illnesses are medical conditions that affect emotions, thinking, or behavior in a functioning social environment. People across all ages experience these issues in today’s world, and so they can’t be overlooked. Over 44 million adults in the US live with a diagnosable mental health illness. Some lifestyle choices directly affect the brain’s chemistry. The effects include mental illnesses ranging from simple clinical depression to severe dementia. Fortunately, it is not too challenging to make lifestyle changes.
On that note, here are four lifestyle choices that improve your mental health:
1. Improving physical health
Poor physical health affects your mental well-being negatively. For example, untreated hearing loss can have destructive consequences on your mental health. It will affect the quality of your social and psychological well-being, which has consequential effects on your mental health. Improving physical health means ensuring the general well-being of your body by encouraging proper care and treatment of all bodily features. Engage in physical activities and fitness routines like swimming, walking, yoga, jogging, and aerobics to improve your physical well-being and mental health. Lastly, weight management and healthy dieting also enhance physical fitness and improves mental health.
2. Refraining from smoking
In addition to increasing your risk for heart disease, lung disease, and other health conditions, smoking harms your brain. Compared to a non-smoking brain, a smoking brain experiences an induced loss in brain volume. There is also evidence of detrimental effects on the structural integrity of a smoker’s brain, which may lead to specific mental health illnesses like dementia. Dementia is a condition that can affect your memory, thinking abilities, and behavior. Refraining from smoking leaves the brain free from toxins and improves mental health. Unfortunately, some e-cigarettes may contain these toxins and should also be avoided for a healthier brain. However, here are some things to avoid when vaping as a healthier alternative.
3. Therapy
Therapy is a remediation effort to resolve behavioral and mental disorders. It involves engaging a psychotherapist or mental health professional to seek help with dealing with certain mental health illnesses. This psychological treatment process helps treat repeated mental conditions and compulsive disorders like depression, anxiety, alcoholism, and addiction. In addition, therapy helps you make better and healthier lifestyle choices to help keep the brain healthier generally. Therapy together with appropriate medication guarantees improved mental health. For people who can’t afford a therapist, simply sharing your problems with people or building relationships with people you can talk to helps improve mental health.
4. Getting enough rest
Sleep plays a vital role in good physical and mental health. Sleep deprivation worsens many mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. As a result, it is crucial to understand the impact of insomnia or sleep deprivation on mental health and well-being. Adults need seven to eight hours of sleep each day. Make changes to your sleep schedule if you can’t find enough time to sleep for the minimum hours. Also, it’s essential to get good quality sleep on your sleep schedule, so you feel well-rested and less stressed.
What other lifestyle choices is there that will help improve mental health? Let me know in the comments below!
Loads of useful insights here. A great overview of simple yet impactful lifestyle choices for better mental health. Exercise, sleep, social connections, and mindfulness are indeed powerful tools.. Appreciate the practical advice shared.