The Importance of Taking Care of Our Mental Health

Here are FOUR reasons why we should take care of our mental health.

1.Leads to Healthier Relationships

The relationship you have with yourself, which also includes how you treat and what you think about yourself will influence the type of relationships you develop and communicate with others.

And if you see yourself poorly, the chances you’ll find people who will treat you better will be slim. This is often because people are able to perceive low self-esteem and low self-esteem issues, which are the result of mental health issues.

Hence, by taking care of your mental health, it will help you realize how important you are and help you treat yourself better. At the same time, it will help you set parameters for healthy relationships and prevent you from taking less than you deserve.

2.Better Physical Health

Most of us tend to focus on our physical health while forgetting about our mental health. What we don’t realize is that mental health inadvertently affects physical wellness.

While we may be eating right and keeping right to maintain our physical health, taking care of our mental well-being will keep our minds healthy. The connection between physical and mental health is very fascinating as scientists have discovered that mental health issues often manifest as physical symptoms such as fatigue, lack of energy, insomnia, and back or neck pains.

That said, our mind and body need to be at their best to thrive in all aspects, hence that is why taking care of our mental health is just as important as our physical well-being.

3.Better Quality of Life

Anxiety and stress can affect all of us, what is important is how we learn to manage them. Chronic stress may cause fatigue, heart attacks, migraines, and even cause a mental breakdown.

Learning how to manage our stress is important as it lowers the risk of developing mental health issues and improve our physical well-being which can help us live better and longer. At the same time, it helps us to better manage stressful situations and make good decisions while under pressure. This is even more vital as we are in the midst facing a pandemic.

That said, there are many treatment options available for people who suffer from mental health issues. These include therapy, meditation, yoga, and something as simple as journaling. And whatever method you choose, don’t forget to seek professional help as they’re trained to diagnose and offer the best treatment properly.

4.Promote Better Performance at Work

It is common to face mental health issues in the workplace. The pressure, stress and demands of some working environments could trigger mental breakdown even in the most resilient individuals. A study revealed that five out of ten cases of work disability are related to mental health issues.

Thus, if we neglect our mental health, it will hinder our progress at work, and eventually make you unemployable. Meanwhile, if we are in a good mental state, it will help promote productivity and improve our work performance. And when we have good mental health, we can achieve our goals faster and have a more fulfilling career.

Signs of Poor Mental Health:

Here are some of the early signs to look out for when dealing with mental health issues:

• Fatigue
• Lack of concentration
• Lack of energy
• Insomnia
• Depression and mood swings
• Aggressive behaviour
• Feeling overwhelmed by little things
• Easily distracted
• Lose interest in activities and social interactions

These are some of the early symptoms of poor mental health, however, it does not mean that everyone who exhibits these symptoms are already mentally ill. It is advisable to always consult a doctor or a certified therapist for proper diagnosis.

And in conjunction with World Mental Health Day this October 10, 2021, I will be collaborating with The Lost Food Project for its month-long #GoodFoodFoodMood campaign where I will be leading FOUR Meditation and Qigong Yoga sessions throughout October.