Protecting Your Mental Health in Today’s World

Every month on the blog, we have community sessions for members of our tribe and for April 2022, Protecting Your Mental Health in Today’s World was our topic. This session was taken by Adewuyi Samson, Founder of Mental Space. Catch up on everything we discussed by reading this article.

What Do We Understand by Mental Health?

Mental health has a variety of meanings, but the general one is that mental health is the cognitive, behavioural, and emotional well-being of individuals. Everyone and anyone has the tendency to develop mental health disorders, regardless of age, sex, income, or ethnicity.

Factors that Contribute to Mental Health Illness

Several factors contribute to mental health illnesses. They include the following:

Social and economic pressure.

When a person experiences limited financial capabilities, ethnic persecution can increase the tendency to develop a mental health disorder.

Genetics

Genetics also plays a vital role in determining the possibility of developing a mental health disorder. However, a family member having depression or PTSD isn’t a guarantee that others will inherit it, as others with no genetics of mental health disorder can also develop it.

Underlying health issues

Mental health disorders such as stress, anxiety and depression may develop due to underlying life-changing health problems such as cancer, diabetes and chronic pain.

Types of Mental Health Disorders

We’ll be looking at two types of disorders. These are anxiety and mood disorders. People with anxiety disorders experience severe fear or tension relating to certain situations or objects.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are divided into subgroups as well:

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

This refers to a disproportionate worry that disrupts everyday living. They sometimes experience restlessness, fatigue, tense muscles and interrupted sleep. Their anxiety can sometimes pop up with no trigger. On some other occasions, it can get triggered by everyday situations, such as chores or keeping appointments.

Panic Disorders

People who suffer from panic attacks can experience sudden, overwhelming terror or a sense of imminent disaster and death.

Phobias

This is another aspect of anxiety disorders. Simple phobias are a disproportionate fear of specific objects, scenarios or animals.

Social Phobias or Social Anxiety

It refers to the fear of being subject to the judgement of others. People with social phobia often restrict their exposure to social environments.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

It deals with obsessions and compulsions. They experience constant stressful thoughts and a powerful urge to perform repetitive acts.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

It occurs after a person experiences or witnesses a deeply stressful or traumatic event. They live in fear and lack control over their life. They believe their lives or those of other people are in constant danger.

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are also known as affective disorders or depressive disorders. People with these conditions have significant mood changes. It can involve either mania, a period of high energy and elation, or depression. Types of mood disorders include major depression. This is a constant low mood and lack of interest in activities and events that were previously enjoyed. They experience prolonged periods of sadness or extreme sadness. Bipolar disorder is an unusual change in mood, energy levels, levels of activity and the ability to continue with daily life.

Signs of Mental Illness

There are several signs of mental illness to take note of. These include:

Withdrawal from friends, family and colleagues.

Avoiding activities they normally enjoy

Sleeping too much or too little

Feelings of hopelessness

Having constant low-energy

Using mood- and energy-altering substances frequently

Feelings of confusion

Hearing voices

Inability to complete daily tasks

Thinking of causing physical harm to themselves and others

Experiencing delusions and so on

If you experience any of the symptoms above, then you’re likely to have one or more mental illnesses. Psychiatrists prescribe medications as a way to treat mental illness. Therapy or group discussions are other treatment methods. Sometimes, it’s a combination of all.

How To Protect Your Mental Health?

Validate Your Feelings

The first is that we should learn to validate our feelings. Always speak out, either to parents, close friends or your therapist.

Exercise

Another way is by regular exercise. Exercise helps bring clarity to the mind and reduces stress.

Reduce Intake of Hard Substance

Reduction of alcohol intake and smoking.

Be Positive

Staying positive is another way of protecting your mental health. Negativity is the gateway to mental health.

Gratitude

Cultivate the attitude of gratitude. You can get a journal and put down periodically things you’re grateful for. Engage in activities that relax and make you happy.

Watch Your Physical Health

Protecting your physical health also affects your mental health.

Questions On Protecting Your Mental Health?

Is social anxiety common, mostly among introverts? Also, how can one manage social anxiety?

I would say 90% of introverts have social anxiety. You can manage social anxiety through gradual exposure to social events. You cannot get rid of it, only manage. Carefully get exposed to social events. You should do this in order not to overload, which can lead to panic attacks. The exposure needs to be agreed to and done in a gradual process.

Is negativity the gateway to bad mental health or just mental health?

Bad mental health. Depression generally comes as a result of negative thoughts and feelings of hopelessness.

Thank you for reading through. Please leave your thoughts, opinions and questions in the comment section. Don’t forget that you can join the tribe here. If you want to get a gist of what is coming up next on the blog, then please sign up for my newsletter, a new note comes out every Saturday.