Healthy Living Archives - Creating a Better Life

When it comes to healthy living, we all have a pretty similar idea of what that means. We think of exercise, eating right, drinking lots of water, and getting plenty of sleep. However, these are just the ingredients for a healthy body, and we’re notorious for neglecting our mental health. Mental illness is a real problem, and it’s a pervasive one. Here are just a few ways to take care of your mind, as well as your body.

When it comes to exercise, there is a way to benefit both your body and your mind. Instead of using a treadmill to simulate walking, just go outside and walk around for real. The changing scenery and the sunlight on your skin will do wonders for your mental health. Walking in this way can alleviate anxiety and depression, improving your mood drastically. It also boosts creativity, which can help you enjoy your spare time more fully, as well as being more productive in general.

Mental Health Advice

Speaking of spare time, make sure to take some time for yourself. While it is often demonized to not be working all the time, it’s all but imperative that you take some time to unwind. Relaxing at the end of a hard day’s work can refresh you and prepare you for the next day of work. It can prevent, as well as alleviate, mental health issues.

In the same vein, treating yourself occasionally will be a nice reward for hanging in there and keep your morale up. Ways to do this are many, but here’s a few. You can watch a favorite movie or TV show, or find a new favorite. You can take up a hobby, like painting or writing, which work well for my wife and me, or you can treat yourself to a nice meal. So, grab yourself a bag of M&M’s and find yourself something to watch. You deserve it.

According to the existing studies, mental illness is one of the most common diseases in the world. It cuts across the demography and age and knows no geographical location. If somebody in your family has been analyzed with any disorder, it is important to understand how to deal with it.

No blame game

The most common reaction to most people, when their dear one is diagnosed with a mental illness, is denial. Others take it as a personal blame, and they see like they have contributed to the illness. There are many mental disorders and there are tens of reasons and causes of mental disorder, and it is not possible to blame any one person or factor for such a misfortune. There are those that are hereditary while others suffer owing to a number of environmental factors. It is, hence; imprudent to blame any person or to blame yourself for when such an unfortunate thing happens.

mental-illness

Acceptance

Most mental illness patients are victims of endless stigma and are looked at with suspicion. There are cases of even some of them being subjected to violence by a society that does not understand them. The first step you can do to your family member suffering from mental illness is to accept the condition. It is difficult to overcome the emotions, but it is crucial to understand their condition and help them cope with it. The society is not yet prepared to accept people who are considered abnormal or who may demonstrate unusual habits. The stigma of mental illness is still very strong even at workplace. It is hence important that you serve as the link between the family member and the rest of the community and help them understand what you are going through.

Support them

Most of the patients suffering from mental disorders are prone to many dangers in life. You will recognize that most of them do not have someone to turn to and may suffer in silence after being neglected by the family and the community. It is, hence; important if you are a family member to support them both physically and financially. They may be undergoing medication and spending a lot in terms of medical bills and hence it is vital that you be there for them. Moral and emotional support too will help them in their struggle with the disorder and will help in the recovery. They may not be conscious enough to do some tasks on their own, and it is important that you be there to show them the way.

Support group

You may be tempted to handle this task on your own but remember you are also a human being and you will need to share your experiences. Joining a support group of people facing similar challenges will not only give you a platform to share ideas, but it will also help you release pent up frustrations. You can also be a great help to the rest of the faction by giving them solutions to your problem. You can be sure your burden will be eased when you encounter people dealing with the same problems you are facing. Continue reading “How to Deal With Mental Illness in the Family?”