The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year’s theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World. Recognising throughout the world, economic disparities go hand in hand with social and health inequalities
Mental health itself affects us all as it includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It’s important at every stage of life.
When our mental health is good, we feel confident regardless of our environment and have a genuinely positive outlook to life in general naturally affecting us in all that we do.
When we struggle with it we can feel agitated, frustrated, have extreme mood swings and can feel helpless. Which is likely to lead to withdrawal from friends and activities. Tiredness, low energy and poor sleep are also associated. As too, excessive drinking, smoking and other recreational drugs.
It can be addressed by talking about our thoughts and feelings (with a therapist if need be) and being comfortable with them rather than attempting to suppress them. Meditation practises can help greatly with this.
Other things we can do is keep active, follow a healthy diet with moderate to no alcohol consumption. Spending time with friends, taking regular breaks and doing something you like such as a hobby can also put a smile on one’s face.
Being realistic we are all going to be affected by this negatively at some stage in our life. So prepare for it, understand it and start incorporating preventative measures in order to minimise its effect when it does happen.
Afterall, it’s not as if connecting with friends, doing something you enjoy and exploring the mind is a chore . It is actually life evolving and can be damn good fun!!
For more information on upcoming events including courses on Transcendental Meditation please contact me directly at hello@andreberrymeditation.co.uk
