The benefits

According to a report by World Health Organization , the number of people living with mental disorders in Kenya is expeditiously rising with 1 out of 4 people living with a mental disorder and the nation losing about 4 lives everyday to suicide. This is both disheartening and alarming and reveals that more action needs to be taken to mitigate this pandemic. But as the efforts are being taken , what are you as an individual doing to take care of your mental health?

While there are many factors predisposing individuals to conditions such as anxiety, depression substance abuse and so on, there are tiny little changes you can incorporate in your daily life for your mental well being.

The first thing you can do to take care of your mental health is educate yourself .There are numerous helpful resources available online that can assist you in that quest. Imbibing on mental health related information, equips and empowers you in not only being proactive to check in with your mental health but also in assisting others around you living with mental health conditions.

Self awareness

Being self aware is understanding your feelings thoughts and actions. This allows you to make the right decisions and having self control. A self aware person is able to determine their values and is proactive in taking part in only value aligned actions .This can prevent from indulging you from self destructing activities like substance use and abuse which only serve to worsen your mental health.

Open up

It is beneficial to discuss your problems , difficulties as well as your highlights with a confidant. Sharing brings your situation or dilemma to light and you may get a possible solution in addition to improving your relationship with other people. Connecting makes us feel more at ease especially when you connect with caring ,supportive and authentic people.

Staying active

Staying active especially with regard to physical exercise is beneficial in reducing the risk of physical health issues which have been proven to not only predispose but also exacerbate mental health symptoms. It also eases symptoms of depression and anxiety by releasing endorphins which promote a sense of wellbeing. You can create your own workout routine, join a gym or follow a fitness enthusiast online to help yourself in keeping active. Regular physical exercise also boosts mood, improves memory and sharpens thinking .Also eat healthy foods like fruits and vegetables for your overall health.

Take up a new hobby

Including positive distractions which pour into your soul like reading a book, learning a recipe, playing your favorite game, hiking, writing , journaling and other hobbies depending on your preferences help to increase feelings of happiness and improve your mood. Quit any self destructing activities like drinking , smoking and excessive use of social media which have been proven to have detrimental effects to your mental health.

Meditation

Praying , deep breathing and mindfulness help to clear the mind and focus on the present. They help reduce stress and manage depression and anxiety among other benefits. Everyone of us experiences stress and anxiety from time to time due to the hustle and bustle of life thus we all need an avenue to relieve stress. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, sad or anxious, try practicing a form of meditation. You can try a grounding technique like the 54321 grounding technique for example.

Tip :the 5-4-3-2-1 technique .

Identity around you and focus on:

5 things you can see.

4 things you can touch

3 things you can hear

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste

The technique will help to calm your mind, elevate your mood and reduce emotional stress by engaging your 5 sense organs.

The benefits of taking care of your mental health cannot be overemphasized . You can begin today by incorporating some of the above activities . Seeing a therapist or psychologist is also a very good option regardless of whether you have mental health condition or not.

Remember to be kind, loving and authentic to yourself and for others. We all need to take care of ourselves so we can create a better future for ourselves and others.

Sincerely yours,

Hellen Muhonja

|Hellen Muhonja is a mental health activist, and a writer of the blog Hellen's Bounty, read more of her articles by visiting https://hellensbounty.blogspot.com/ |