By Liz Schoeben MFT
Mental illness is not the same as feeling sad, unhappy, or stressed because of difficult situations. Still, nearly one in five adults suffer from some form of mental illness in the United States. Mental illnesses can cause significant changes in thinking, and behavior, and cause problems functioning in social, work, or family activities.
By promoting good mental health we can fend off more serious mental illness. This is not to say all mental illness is preventable, but mental illness is treatable. The vast majority of individuals with mental illness continue to function socially.
Following are some ways to help sustain mental health.
Connections with others: Take time to nurture relationships with family and friends. By prioritizing these relationships we feel more at peace and more emotionally stable. Limit your reliance on social media to connect. Instead of texting, pick up the phone for a chat or grab lunch with friends.
Stay physically active: This not only improves your physical health by staving off obesity, and heart disease, but it can raise self-esteem. Even light exercise causes chemical changes in the brain that improve mood. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym. Try making physical activity a daily part of your life — take those stairs or park a few blocks away from your destination.
Always be learning: Learning a new skill boosts self confidence, and gives one a sense of purpose. Learn to cook, try painting or drawing. Get out there and surf, boogie board or paddle. Perform acts of kindness: Volunteer for causes you believe in, simply open a door for someone, or ask a stranger about their day.
Practice mindfulness:. Pay attention to the present moment. When we slow down it allows us to enjoy the world around us. It helps us focus on our stream of thoughts. We can begin to see patterns to our thoughts, both positive and negative. We can then begin to challenge some of these negative thoughts that may be causing us feelings of depression and anxiety.
And as always if you are experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety that are causing significant impairment in your daily life for over two weeks, consult a professional. Counseling is an excellent first step to metal wellness.
Liz Schoeben MFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 25 years of experience counseling adolescents in academic settings in Los Angeles, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the executive director of SAGE, a Project of Impact Philanthropy Group. For more information visit SageSoCal.org.
