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So what is Mental Health?

 

It is the health of our feelings & emotions, thoughts and behaviour. We often hear mental health talked about when someone is struggling but mental health isn't just a bad thing. Everyone has mental health just like everyone has physical health; sometimes it can be really good, sometimes it can be really poor or anywhere in between.

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When our mental health is good, we can enjoy life, deal with everyday challenges, and have healthy relationships. However, when mental health is poor it can impact our ability to function properly, it can stop us enjoying life and can have a negative impact on our relationships.

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Signs of Good Mental Health

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• Feeling Good: Feeling generally happy and positive most of the time.

• Dealing with Stress: Being able to handle stress and bounce back from setbacks.

• Self-Esteem: Having a good self-image and confidence.

• Healthy Choices: Making positive decisions for your physical and mental well-being.

• Connecting: Being able to form and maintain healthy relationships.

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Signs Your Mental Health May Need Attention

 

Sometimes, our mental health isn’t as good as it could be. Here are some signs that you might need some help: 

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• Feeling Down: Feeling sad, anxious, or numb for weeks or months at a time.

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• Feeling out of Control: Having intense emotions that you can’t manage. This may lead to you using coping strategies that cause you or others harm or it may impact the way you behave or lead to physical symptoms.

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• Energy Levels & Sleep: Feeling very tired most of the time or for weeks/months at a time, having an extreme and unusual high amount of energy compared to your norm where you may struggle to rest, having trouble falling asleep, waking up multiple times throughout the night, having an excessive amount of nightmares.

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• Withdrawing: Not wanting to be around others or do things you would usually enjoy.

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• Changes in Behavior: Acting differently than usual, like being very angry or very quiet.

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• Changes in Concentration & Motivation: Having a big shift in motivation levels to your usual - you may lose motivation to do the things you may normally enjoy or normally have motivation to do. You may struggle to concentrate more than your normal level of concentration

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Why People's mental health may deteriorate

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There is a common misconception that people only struggle with their mental health because of a chemical imbalance in the brain or due to genetics, however, that is simply not the case. Mental health can be very complex but a deterioration can stem from various factors. Early life experiences and unresolved trauma, such as adverse childhood experiences or significant life stressors, can lead to long-term emotional and psychological impacts.

 

• Psychological factors, including coping mechanisms, thought patterns, and belief systems, can play a crucial role in how individuals process and react to stress in life.

 

• Social factors, such as family dynamics, socioeconomic status, and community support, can further influence someones mental well-being.

 

• Biological factors such as using drugs and alcohol or genetic predispositions can exacerbate mental health difficulties.

 

The complex interplay of these factors can result in a compounded effect leading to a deterioration in someone's mental health. This is why at Grow With Hope we shift away from asking someone what is wrong with them, to what has happened to them. Other factors impacting mental health could be due to a physical illness causing mental health difficulties such as epilepsy, people who have experienced multiple concussions or an acquired brain injury can also lead to mental health difficulties.

 

Your body may be trying to communicating with you that something is wrong and needs addressing when your mental health is deteriorating. This may be you have experienced trauma that has not been dealt with, you are not taking enough time for self care and to relax, you are not putting in boundaries with other people, you are not being authentic to yourself and only doing what other people want, your needs are not being met in some way, you are chronically stressed and so many more reasons. If you notice your mental health has started deteriorating it can be beneficial to looking at different areas of your life to see if your body is trying to communicate something to yourself.  

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​​Link between Mental health & Physical health​​

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People often view mental health and physical health as completely separate however that is not the case, both can impact the other. Poor mental health can significantly impact physical health, leading to a variety of physical symptoms and illnesses. Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to infections and illnesses. Additionally, mental health struggles can manifest as physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, digestive issues, and sleep disturbances. Prolonged psychological distress can contribute to serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.

 

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Dr Gabor Maté - an expert on topics such as trauma, child development and stress - outlines the link between mental and physical health in his book "When the body says no: the cost of hidden stress". He discusses how chronic stress, loneliness, trauma in childhood, difficulty saying no to others, repressing anger and more are linked with an increase risk of developing cancer, autoimmune diseases and other physical symptoms and illnesses. This is because when we are under chronic stress eventually the body will say no and it will lead to us becoming physically unwell. Therefore, maintaining mental well-being is crucial not only for emotional health but also for overall physical health. 

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Getting Help and Support

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• Talk About It: Share your feelings with someone you trust like a parent, teacher, or friend.

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• Professional Help: Sometimes you might need to talk to a school counsellor, GP or mental health professional and that's ok. It is important to get help as early as you can to prevent your mental health getting any worse.

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• Self-Care: Try activities that make you feel good, like hobbies, sports, or spending time with friends and make sure you take time to rest and relax.

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• Healthy Habits: Get enough sleep! Sleep is a fundamental part of our mental health and staying well. If you are struggling with your sleep CLICK HERE for tips on how to improve it. Do your best to eat well - your body and brain needs the correct nutrients to function well. If your body doesn't get the right nutrition then your brain and body can't function properly and can lead to your mental health getting worse. Make sure you are moving and exercise regularly - this does not mean you have to go on a long run or do hours of HITT workouts, it's about doing what you enjoy and what you are physically able to do. It might be putting on your favourite songs every day and dancing or jumping around for 15 minutes, following a yoga video on YouTube, taking your dog on a walk each day or going to the gym and lifting weights. As long as you are moving it is up to you how you do it.

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Remember, taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your body. It’s okay to ask for help and talk about your feelings and is never something you should feel ashamed of.