Mental illness is a debilitating and lonely battle for those who are cursed with it. I have come to the realization that a major component of these illnesses is the feeling of being utterly alone. Battling feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth, anxiety, depression and other symptoms is extremely difficult. Imagine all of the above coupled with extreme loneliness. Yet, it appears that one of the tell-tale signs of mental illness is the tendency to alienate loved ones. Why? isn’t this the time when we need people the most?
Many people with mental health issues suffer in silence, refusing to share their struggles with family, close friends or intimate partners. Recently, despite this, a few people close to me shared that they were either diagnosed with a mental illness or have been treated for several years. I cannot help but wonder whether mental illness is on the rise.
Is Mental Illness on the Rise?
Maybe people are more comfortable talking about it because there is less stigma attached to these types of illnesses in recent years? The other explanation may be that diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues have gained undeniable traction and credibility in the past decades. It is now widely accepted that mental health is as important as physical health.
The Stress Minefield
Mental health is equally important and should be as well-maintained as physical health but how many of us even know how maintain mental health? According to Mental Health.gov these factors determine our mental health:
- Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
- Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
- Family history of mental health problems
Clearly, all the above are out of our hands! In a worst-case scenario, all three of these factors are represented. What happens then? I’m no mental health expert but I think it is obvious that these factors coupled with extreme stress can create a pretty explosive situation.
No doubt everyone is currently experiencing some degree of stress, the year 2020 has not been exactly kind to us. COVID-19 has spurred a drastic shift in our expectations and plans for the future. Pre-existing not- so- vague threats like global warming hover in our sub-conscious and our everyday stressors are still very much there everyday! How do we avoid stress when we live in a stress minefield?
What does That say About the State of Affairs?
It says we are all at risk for developing mental health issues and we need to take action now before it is too late! How can we do that? It starts with being considerate and kind to ourselves and others. For most of us the phrase “be kind to yourself” seems a bit ludicrous. Have you noticed that the more stressful our lives become, the more we tend to neglect our physical and mental health? Why are we doing the complete opposite of what is most beneficial for us?
Luckily, the very things that are beneficial for physical health is also beneficial for mental health. In fact, our physical, mental and emotional health – reap bountiful benefits from a healthy balanced diet and exercise. A healthy diet does not mean giving up the foods we love, it may only mean limiting our intake of those foods that are high in trans fats etc. Exercise does not have to involve an expensive gym membership.
A doctor once told me to exercise since my bad cholesterol was a little elevated. I asked what type of exercise she would recommend and she immediately said, “dance mami! dance and have sex “ I was a little taken aback but obediently followed doctor’s orders! if you don’t dance or have sex then get creative, do anything that causes mild exertion and gets your ticker pumping for at least thirty minutes, three or four times per week.
While diet and exercise are extremely important, there are a few other things which are equally important for overall health. Remember to rest – take a breather and relax without doing anything (or worrying about anything) just be. Get a massage – there are a variety of health benefits you can derive from getting massages regularly. Listen to music – the kind that lifts your spirits. Sleep – it rejuvenates your body and replenishes your energy. Meditate – it calms your spirit and opens your mind to positivity. Get a pet – according to The American Heart Association having a dog is good for your health.
Everything mentioned so far is important but without human interaction, a key piece of the puzzle would be missing. English poet John Donne wrote an interesting poem in which he says “no man is an island”, we do not thrive in solitary, we need people! Spend time with people who uplift you, we all need someone who listens, comforts, supports and encourages us. It is truly an important part of promoting good health and wellbeing.
