Your mental health is very
important. You will not have a healthy body if you don't also take care of your
mind. People depend on you. It's important for you to take care of yourself so
that you can do the important things in life — whether it's working, learning,
taking care of your family, volunteering, enjoying the outdoors, or whatever is
important to you.
Good mental health helps
you enjoy life and cope with problems. It offers a feeling of well-being and
inner strength. Just as you take care of your body by eating right and
exercising, you can do things to protect your mental health. In fact, eating
right and exercising can help maintain good mental health. You don't
automatically have good mental health just because you don't have mental health
illness. You have to work to keep your mind healthy.
The food you eat can have a
direct effect on your energy level, physical health, and mood. A "healthy
diet" is one that has enough of each essential nutrient, contains many
foods from all of the basic food groups, provides the right amount of calories
to maintain a healthy weight, and does not have too much fat, sugar, salt, or
alcohol.
By choosing foods that can
give you steady energy, you can help your body stay healthy. This may also help
your mind feel good. The same diet doesn't work for every person. In order to
find the best foods that are right for you, talk to your health care
professional.
Some vitamins and minerals
may help with the symptoms of depression. Experts are looking into how a lack
of some nutrients — including folate, vitamin B12, calcium, iron,
selenium, zinc, and omega-3 — may contribute to depression in new mothers. Ask
your doctor or another health care professional for more information.
Regular physical activity
is important to the physical and mental health of almost everyone, including
older adults. Being physically active can help you continue to do the things
you enjoy and stay independent as you age. Regular physical activity over long
periods of time can produce long-term health benefits. That's why health
experts say that everyone should be active every day to maintain their health.
If you are diagnosed with
depression or anxiety, your doctor may tell you to exercise in addition to
taking any medications or receiving counseling. This is because exercise has
been shown to help with the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Your body makes
certain chemicals, called endorphins, before and after you work out. They
relieve stress and improve your mood. Exercise can also slow or stop weight
gain, which is a common side effect of some medications used to treat mental
health disorders.
Your mind and body will
feel better if you sleep well. Your body needs time every day to rest and heal.
If you often have trouble sleeping — either falling asleep, or waking during
the night and being unable to get back to sleep — one or several of the
following ideas might be helpful to you:
·
Go to bed at the same time
every night and get up at the same time every morning. Avoid "sleeping
in" (sleeping much later than your usual time for getting up). It will
make you feel worse.
·
Establish a bedtime
"ritual" by doing the same things every night for an hour or two
before bedtime so your body knows when it is time to go to sleep.
·
Avoid caffeine, nicotine,
and alcohol.
·
Eat on a regular schedule
and avoid a heavy meal prior to going to bed. Don't skip any meals.
·
Eat plenty of dairy foods
and dark green leafy vegetables.
·
Exercise daily, but avoid
strenuous or invigorating activity before going to bed.
·
Play soothing music on a
tape or CD that shuts off automatically after you are in bed.
·
Try a turkey sandwich and a
glass of milk before bedtime to make you feel drowsy.
·
Try having a small snack
before you go to bed, something like a piece of fruit and a piece of cheese, so
you don't wake up hungry in the middle of the night. Have a similar small snack
if you awaken in the middle of the night.
·
Take a warm bath or shower
before going to bed.
·
Place a drop of lavender
oil on your pillow.
·
Drink a cup of herbal
chamomile tea before going to bed.
You need to see your doctor
if:
·
You often have difficulty
sleeping and the solutions listed above are not working for you
·
You awaken during the night
gasping for breath
·
Your partner says that your
breathing stops when you are sleeping
·
You snore loudly
·
You wake up feeling like
you haven't been asleep
·
You fall asleep often
during the day
Stress can happen for many
reasons. Stress can be brought about by a traumatic accident, death, or
emergency situation. Stress can also be a side effect of a serious illness or
disease.
There is also stress
associated with daily life, the workplace, and family responsibilities. It's
hard to stay calm and relaxed in our hectic lives. As women, we have many
roles: spouse, mother, caregiver, friend, and/or worker. With all we have going
on in our lives, it seems almost impossible to find ways to de-stress. But it's
important to find those ways. Your health depends on it.
Common symptoms include:
·
Headache
·
Sleep disorders
·
Difficulty concentrating
·
Short-temper
·
Upset stomach
·
Job dissatisfaction
·
Low morale
·
Depression
·
Anxiety
Remember to always make
time for you. It's important to care for yourself. Think of this as an
order from your doctor, so you don't feel guilty! No matter how busy you are,
you can try to set aside at least 15 minutes each day in your schedule to do
something for yourself, like taking a bubble bath, going for a walk, or calling
a friend.
For more information about mental illness, please visit
Connect with other organizations
- American Psychological Association http://apa.org/
- Mental Health America http://www.nmha.org/
- National Alliance on Mental Illness http://www.nami.org/
- National Institute of Mental Health Information Center, NIHhttp://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/index.cfm
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
This is a great information it can help me, thanks for sharing.Health Care Tips
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