If there is one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted is the importance of our mental health. Before the pandemic, many of us might have not paid attention to how we were feeling, thinking and acting. We led busy lives, were out and about, and perhaps never even had the time to check in with ourselves to see how we were doing. However, with the pandemic, life as we knew it had ground to a halt. We had to make a lot of adjustments in our personal and professional lives, and in many instances, that meant more working longer hours and having more responsibilities at home. However, the avenues we would have used to relax and blow off some steam, such as going to the gym, window shopping, catching up with friends, going clubbing, were not as available. We thus ended up more stressed, anxious, and struggling to cope.

 

What Does ‘Mental Health’ Mean?

Although we all use the term ‘mental health’, it can be difficult to define. However, and according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Mental health 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 healthy choices.”

Essentially, our mental health, the factors that affect it, and the ways it manifests itself can vary. For example, we all carry experiences from our childhood: some more traumatic than others; but they have not only shaped who we are, but also can still trigger seemingly overblown responses years, or even decades, later. Moreover, we can also experience mental health challenges based on situations that we are currently experiencing, but we are finding them difficult to cope with, and may be affecting in one or more areas of our lives.

It is also important to highlight that there is a difference between ‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’, the latter being a diagnosed disorder. However, it could be argued that a large proportion of our communities are experiencing mental health challenges, but they have not been identified as such, and so people are suffering alone and in silence.

 

Early Signs That Your Mental Health May Be Under Threat

Thanks to the fact that we live in societies in which being stressed, overworked, experiencing anxiety, and to some degree, struggling to cope, have been normalised, frequently, we cannot recognise when we – or someone in our circle – might be grappling with a mental health issue. Below are some of the early warning signs:

Eating or sleeping too much or too little

Pulling away from people and usual activities

Having low or no energy

Feeling numb or like nothing matters

Having unexplained aches and pains

Feeling helpless or hopeless

Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual

Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared

Yelling or fighting with family and friends

Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships

Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head

Hearing voices or believing things that are not true

Thinking of harming yourself or others

Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school

Source:  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

In the event you are experiencing one or more of the above feelings or behaviours, it could point to a mental health issue, and would merit further investigation.  

 

Maintaining Your Mental Health

When you are experiencing a mental health issue, it can feel as if you are in a hole that you cannot escape. Depending on the severity of the situation, the support of a mental health professional, such as counsellor or therapist, could be crucial.

Having said this, situations that challenge your mental health are part of life, and so there is merit in developing and maintaining habits and practices that can help you keep in balance, or be in a position to re-balance yourself when needed. Below, we outline a few ways you can look after your mental health.

First, make time for to yourself. Take a break when you need it – it can be even just a few minutes or a few hours. Pursue your hobbies or activities you find meaningful. Whatever you choose to do, be it activities that you enjoy, they should rejuvenate you, and so can help to keep you in balance.

Second, take care of your body, which includes maintaining a healthy diet, incorporating daily exercise, and limiting your intake of stimulants, alcohol and recreational drugs. All of these factors not only affect your energy levels, but also your mood. However, some of us also indulge in them, as coping mechanisms; but the point is not to avoid our difficulties. Instead, we want to be in optimal physical health as we try to overcome our challenges.

Third, have someone who you can talk to. Although we might all have friends, not all of us have a confidante – someone who you trust, and with whom you can share the difficulties you are experiencing. If you have people like that in your life, do take the time to nurture these relationships, and to connect with them regularly.

Finally, be kind to yourself. You cannot go at full throttle all the time, and there can be pressure to be perfect and to appear to be on top of everything. However, that façade is difficult to maintain, and so it is crucial to be sufficiently self-aware so that you can do what you need to do to preserve your mental health, such as stepping back, delegating and asking for help.

 

 

Image: Dan Meyers (Unsplash)