The mind is the seat of health; that’s a “no brainer”. Pun intended.
Our mental state affects our whole being, reflecting on our daily activities including our social life. Seeing how important our mental wellbeing is, it is quite surprising that not very much is known about how to achieve and/or remain healthy mentally.
Our mind battles every day to keep us stable, it overcomes a lot of internal and external pressures to remain functional.
Symptoms
It is worth mentioning here that the thought processes that plagues a depressed person are not grounded in reality; as depressed people usually lose the ability to process thoughts rationally.
Depression cuts through socio-economic and gender strata, even though statistics show that women are more likely to be affected than men.
Other symptoms of depression ranges from nonspecific symptoms to very serious symptoms that could reduce the quality of life of an individual.
A healthcare professional is quick to identify these symptoms and signs even in their subtle manifestations. Therefore, it is expedient that we visit mental health specialists for assessment.
Presence of 5 or more of the following signs and symptoms during a consecutive two-week period will most likely point to depression.
• Agitation, restlessness and irritability
• Dramatic change in appetite often with weight gain or loss
• Extreme difficulty concentration and thinking clearly
• Fatigue, lack of energy
• Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
• Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, inappropriate guilt.
Inactivity and withdrawal from usual activity, a loss of interest or pleasure in activity that were once enjoyed.
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping
• Psychotic symptoms like delusion or hallucination.
Rejuvenate with sleep:
Sleep is the body’s healing mechanism. Lack of sleep affects the mental health as much as it affects our physical health. Go to bed at a reasonable hour daily and get the daily dose of 8 hours of sleep. This will help you to achieve maximum recovery and face the next day with better vigor.
Mingle reasonably:
Work on developing and maintaining sound relationships at work, home, and in your community. They will serve as your support base. It is worthy of note at this point to also be vigilant enough to recognize negative vibes and stay away from them as much as possible.
Enjoy a great dose of love, laughter and fun:
Laugh often, enjoy yourself, create memorable moments.
Be courageous and ask for help:
At some point in your life, you may need to ask for help. Please do not hesitate. Your support base plays a major role in this. It takes great courage to ask for help especially if you feel that your family and friends expect you to be strong. Rather than live in pretense and deteriorate, reach out for help. And they will be proud of you for it.
Finally, remember that anyone can develop mental ill health at any time or age. These tips can guide you, but most importantly, get help from a professional when you need it and especially when you think you don’t need it!!!