Mental Health and Well-Being

"Mental Health? What's so special about it?"

You can ask that again. What is so special about Mental Health? What is well-being and why does it matter so much that everyone is talking about it. If not texting or writing about it its all across social media 'Mental health here and mental health there'. Well, Mental health involves all aspects of our being, our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. The well-being of our mental health also affect how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood through to adulthood. 

People with mental health problems or challenges can get better and many recover completely. Yes, you are right, there is HELP!!! And on that note, we almost forgot Well-Being, I didn't you did. Anyway, Well-being, when loosely explained, could be said to be the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity. Therefore for us to experience our well being in its best form, we ought to find ourselves drawn to good and positive mental health conditions more than we would the negative. So in essence, the well being of our mind, influences that of our body and soul/spirit. See why it's so important to be mentally healthy and well?

So, how do you track down your Mental Health and Well-Being? The following are pointers...

• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Pulling away from people and usual activities
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling numb or like nothing matters
• Having unexplained aches and pains
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
• Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
• Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head
• Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
• Thinking of harming yourself or others
• Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school

Positive mental health allows people to:

• Realise their full potential
• Cope with the stresses of life
• Work productively
• Make meaningful contributions to their communities and circles at large

This is how you can maintain your Mental Health:

• Getting professional help if you need it
• Connecting with others
• Staying positive
• Getting physically active
• Helping others
• Getting enough sleep
• Developing coping skills
• Drinking Water!!!

Do note that the aforementioned are not the only pointers, there are issues such as genetics, environment, religion and socio-economic ills amongst many others, that all play a role of influence on your well-being. Mental Health conditions are not to be taken lightly. Please if you see something different with yourself or identify with more pointers than anything else on this post, get someone to talk to, if you're shy like me, write about it. Should you feel like its all too much or someone you know is going through that which I just mentioned, please get in touch with the SADAG (South African Depression and Anxiety Group) on their number which is 0800 567 567. I swear, you'll get all the HELP you need. Thank you for reading this far. Until Next Time