Five Things that Impact Your Mental Health (that you might not have considered)
At this point of 2021, we all know the basic things we should do for mental well-being: Get outside. Exercise. Combat loneliness through real or virtual connection with others. Limit social media. Sleep 8 hours/day. Find A good therapist (hey, we might know someone…)
But clearly, there’s much more to maintaining your mental health. Here are some of the factors that could have an impact on how you feel that you might not have considered:
Hygiene
When a person is depressed, it becomes very easy for him or her to neglect personal hygiene tasks like showering or changing clothes. In an article for the website The Mighty, a mental illness survivor reports this thought pattern: “I wake up every morning thinking the same thing I do every day. “I’ll do it tomorrow,” but tomorrow never comes.”
The feelings of overwhelm that accompany conditions like depression make things like getting out of bed seem impossible. The stigma attached to good cleanliness habits further compounds the situation - a depressed person may feel shame and choose to stay silent rather than admit to a therapist or doctor that something simple like getting dressed is mentally too taxing for him or her right now. It creates a vicious cycle that a person may find hard to escape without help.
Your teeth
Your oral health is a large part of your personal hygiene, but also creates other issues for those who struggle with mental health. Going to the dentist isn’t fun for anyone, and the anxiety that comes from dental phobia can make those prone to worry put off an appointment for longer than they should. It’s been reported that those with mental illness are 2.8 times more likely to have lost teeth, which can contribute to low self-esteem due to the impact on one’s physical appearance. Issues such as teeth grinding, cracked teeth, and TMJ have all been on the rise since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a poll conducted by the American Dental Association.
Your food
We all know the cliche “You are what you eat” but it may ring even more true than previously thought. A significant amount of research is exploring the impact food has on our mood, emotions, and even mental health conditions. Choosing a diet lower in processed foods and including plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein was proven to be beneficial, particularly with women (who are more likely to show signs of depression).
Coffee
Good news - coffee can be good for you! According to one neurological study, coffee drinkers were shown to be significantly less likely to be depressed than non-coffee drinkers. They surmised the impact was due to the anti-inflammatory nature of coffee, which also helps reduce your risk of developing certain cancers and chronic diseases. Likewise, the caffeine in your cup of joy may block certain mood-depressing chemicals in the brain and promote better gut health through the prebiotics that exist in coffee beans. That’s on top of the already known impact on alertness, attention, and concentration.
Your finances
You may or may not believe that your thoughts can create your reality, but having a financial safety net can improve your emotional well-being. Those with significant debt have been shown to have lower self-esteem and were more likely to experience feelings of depression, anxiety, and shame. Those in a lower financial bracket may also be more likely to put off doctor’s visits due to fear of medical bills. Once you lower or eliminate your debt, your thoughts may be freed up to focus on your healing.
We know it’s not easy to take care of your mental health, especially when the world seems as overwhelming as it has lately! If you’re having trouble with your well-being, our therapists would love to work with you to improve your situation. Give us a call or visit bravegr.com to schedule your appointment!
