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The Importance Of Stress Relief And Mental Health
Your mind is what powers your body and daily activities, so why is it oftentimes ignored? Why is it so hard to balance stress relief and mental health? Truth is, our mental health is usually pushed to the side since it’s may not be causing any physical pain when something is wrong.
However, the consequences of ignoring your mental well-being and not taking care of high-stress levels can be quite detrimental to your health and cause long term complications if not properly resolved. Continue reading to learn about the negative effects of neglecting your mental state and how you can start treating your mind better.
Mental Illness
One of the most long-term effects of ignoring your mental health is mental illness. Each year, one in five adults in the United States experience a mental illness. Conditions such as depression, ADHD, and anxiety are among the most common and most talked about, but there are others within the mix. Things like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder can also occur. While some illnesses are harder to prevent than others, a healthy state of mind will make the odds of experiencing one less likely.
These conditions can impact you for years to come, which is why it’s important to stay on top of your mental health and treat yourself with kindness. If you do begin to notice any symptoms, like constant fatigue or sudden mood changes, it’s beneficial to seek medical help before things worsen. Take care of your mind by implementing self-care and stress relief acts into your daily routine, like meditation or journaling to give your brain a break from life’s daily stressors.
Weight Gain Or Weight Loss
When your mind becomes overwhelmed with thoughts and stress, your eating habits can take a hit. Some individuals may turn to binge eating as a way to temporarily relieve stress, while others may experience loss of appetite and begin to eat less. Both of these scenarios can result in either weight loss or weight gain depending on the person. This is an example of how a mental struggle can turn into a physical problem.
To avoid weight fluctuations due to mental health, motivate yourself to get up and move around each day to release endorphins, and feel happier. Not only will you be exercising your body, but you’ll also build up an appetite. When it comes time to eat, fuel yourself with healthy nutrients, and consider looking into a meal plan service if you need inspiration for creating a well-balanced diet.
Low Self-Esteem And Motivation
Typically, if we aren’t feeling well mentally, then we will naturally not feel too great about ourselves. Constant negative thoughts can lead to self-destruction. This can also cause a lack of motivation because it can be hard to see what our purpose is in life. It’s important to train our brains to think positively and acknowledge how wonderful we really are, even if we aren’t feeling that way.
If you begin to feel down and unmotivated to accomplish even the simplest of tasks, take a moment to manifest how you want your life to look. Then, write down a list of steps you could take to make this come true. Start small and begin by finding the energy to do the smallest things on the list and work your way through. Even the simple act of crossing off an item will help you regain motivation and realize how valuable you are.
Decreased Sex Drive
Mental health complications like anxiety and depression can lead to a decreased sex drive and other sexual difficulties. While there are medications like Cialis for erectile dysfunction that can aid with maintaining an erection, other sexual difficulties cannot be as easily fixed. For example, low self-confidence can be a result of a poor mental state and can translate into bedroom activities. This cannot be easily fixed with the help of medication and instead needs much more attention and effort to fix.
If you’re experiencing a decreased sex drive due to your mental state, talk with your doctor about what’s going on so they can help you navigate the best way to be aroused again.
Complications With Personal Relationships
Our friends and family are our best support system, yet when going through mental health struggles it can be easy to shut them out. This can cause a sense of tension in personal relationships and sometimes even a falling out.
When you’re feeling down, it can be natural to want to be alone. However, this isn’t always the best thing to do because when alone with your own thoughts, it can be damaging to your mental state. Instead, be open with those closest to you and let them know how you’re feeling and what you need. It can definitely be tricky at first, but no one should suffer in silence. Reach out to those you love so they can check in on you and keep you from isolating yourself.
Impacts On Your Physical Health
Over time, if our mental health is not properly taken care of, there can be consequences to our physical health. Severe weight gain from stress or mental illness can lead to being more likely to develop health conditions like diabetes or heart failure. Your metabolism can also slow down, as a result, leading to digestive complications. Stay on top of both your mental and physical health by scheduling routine checkups and putting your personal wellness first, as well as exercising daily to keep your body and mind active.
As you can see, poor mental health and high-stress levels can impact most, if not all, areas of life. From decreased productivity and motivation to weakening our personal relationships, having a less than the proper mental state can deteriorate your quality of life. Now, feeling sad is normal from time to time, but it’s important to acknowledge these negative feelings and work to improve them.
If you or anyone you know is struggling and in need of mental health help, check out an online therapy service that will help you navigate the situation. At the end of the day, it’s important to take care of yourself and prioritize your mind so that you can live a life that excites you and brings you happiness.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has shown you that stress relief and mental health are important pillars to overall health. If you would like to learn more “hacks” to better health visit our category page – Hacks.