How to improve emotional health ? – It is very simple. Just pay attention to yourself.
We get stress from everywhere, not possible to avoid it completely, however we can try to improve our emotional health at least.
Prioritize your-self over others and above all!
Does it sound selfish?
Actually not, think it this way – we are helping our loved ones by taking care of our-self indirectly.
If we are in good health, we will be able to help & enjoy our life with them.
Other way around, if we are not doing well – they are the ones who will be the most affected and concerned for us.
Why emotional health is ignored ?
No one is ignoring own health knowingly! Or it does not happen overnight. It is a gradual process mostly unless any life event triggers it.
A recent study found that nearly one in five U.S. adults (23.1% or 59.3 million people) had a mental illness in 2022. A considerable portion, 50.6%, of those adults, received mental health treatment in the past year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
If this mental health issues go un-treated, it affects overall emotional health eventually.
Factors affecting emotional health:
Guess what? Biggest culprit for our emotional health issues is stress.
We need to be more alert and watch any signs of emotional disturbance very carefully.
Stress starts up emotional health issues or even adds up to deteriorating mental health.
Stress – is not only affecting mental health, it also ruins nutritional balance in our body and eventually affects physical health as well.
We have many responsibilities in our life. Being an employee, a parent, a bread winner, a house manager, a care giver to parents, and so on.
Factors affecting emotional health changes over time in our life, as we age – our role changes.
Study pressure:
Providing students with quality education is costly. Parents have to plan well in advance for kids educational expenses.
Due to latest gadgets, students get distracted very easily. It is also hard for parents to have their kids focus on study.
While students have tough competition in academic work and other activity- sports, and stress for scholarships.
Parents are stressed for their kids education success, choices they make are safe or not – in the beginning of their independent life.
Career pressure:
Even before teens finish their study, they are in a race to secure a job.
Finding first job is always exciting, we get to work on real projects. However, finding the work they love or they deserve is a huge project itself.
We get to learn new tasks or use whatever we learned. We also make new friends at workplace.
Job security depends on how well you fit in that role and how quickly you adept to the culture and need.
While on a new job, employee is in constant pressure to perform well or to adjust with co-workers, manager and even culture.
Relationship stress:
Finding a perfect partner is everyone’s dream! People often give priority to money – income and look.
However, finding a understanding and supporting partner who stands by you in every thick and thin of the life – should be real priority!
So, people stuck in wrong or abusive relationship end up having mental health issues often.
Financial stress:
Young adults starting family have financial problems that can cause stress eventually.
If they do not have proper budgeting skill, they may end up over-paying for first property or even rent.
Or even purchasing property out of their reach may have them stuck in household budget crisis.
Social stress:
Young family run back and forth between work duties and parent’s duty.
They go thorough sleepless nights often, adding to that – kids wellbeing, schooling related stress.
Even if kids are in full-day daycare, there is always something.
A respiratory virus train or stomach bug, electricity issue or plumbing problems – you name it!
Parents cannot rely on any daycare providers, if they do not have grandparents as a back up care – they are always on their toes!
Medical stress
Patients dealing with some major sickness often get depressed and overwhelmed by treatments, even some medications affect mental strength.
How to improve emotional health ?
There are too many ways to improve your mental health or stress levels.
Prioritize your self
Above all other responsibilities, you have a responsibility to your self too.
You have to listen to your body and mind. Your body and mind give you signals – if they are tired, they are anxious, they are relaxed and recharged.
Learn to say ‘No’
If something you can not handle, say a clear ‘no’. Do not try to be a superwoman or superman, human get tired and have their capacity or limit.
Do not overstress your self, request the help.
Take a break
Most of these minor stresses can be eased with simple break, a little me time.
Take that time for your self, do the things you love to do. You do not need to go on an overseas vacation for couple of months for! Any little bit would help.
A small walk in neighborhood, hiking trip, a phone conversation with a friend or family member, your favorite show or joining a community event – anything and everything that can divert your attention away from cause of your stress!
Hangout with like minded people or friends
If it is temporary situation due to current happening or a life event, seek consulting.
At that time all you need is little bit of positivity – consoling, empathic loved ones to bring you out of that darkness.
Or use resources like Brioveda to have a virtual friend.
Your health matters and it starts with you!
Take this quiz to see how well your emotional health is!
