It’s no secret that when you’re asked how your health is doing, you answer immediately about your physical health. However, mental health is not often discussed. That’s why, so that you can prevent illness from poor mental health, here are the symptoms and what you can do to take care of it.

First of all, we have to say that mental illnesses do not necessarily refer to disorders, but also to a stage in which the person is emotionally exhausted and urgently asking for a break.

Two of the ills related to mental health are anxiety and stress. We will look at each of them a little more below. We will start by saying that anxiety is a generator of stress and, in turn, stress is one of the most common sources of anxiety.

Anxiety

It is an organism’s response to a perceived threat or danger. For example, if you find yourself trapped in an elevator, you will most likely begin to feel anxiety. This prepares your body to escape or fight the problem.

However, anxiety has very particular components, such as a person’s memory, social context, and the body’s chemical reaction.

Anxiety taken to an extreme, if the perception of danger is very great or the problems are many, and we believe that our life is at risk, can cause panic attacks.

Stress

Stress is also a physiological response to a normally external demand and our ability to provide a solution to it. If we believe that our ability to cope with it is inferior to this problem, then stress levels will increase in order to cope with it.

For example, if you have an important work to present in 2 days and you realize that the time is insufficient, then the body activates itself and sets in motion a plan for you to accomplish your goal. If you finish the project, the stress will disappear and return to its usual state.

But, if you live with this pressure on a daily basis, you will probably come home with neck pains (or other discomfort) and very tense. This happens because of a natural reaction of the body, as it loses the ability to discern between a scenario that needs a quick response (like the example of the project) and a dangerous situation.

The responses to life threats are much faster and more violent, while the response to stress goes through other mechanisms, such as the release of cortisol. If you are under a lot of pressure at home or at work, it is best to make an assessment of your priorities. Your mental health is more important, isn’t it?

What should I do to take care of my mental health?

Activate your brain

To prevent your brain from sinking into trouble and to help you reach a healthy old age, we recommend that you stimulate it with games or activities that require a high level of concentration and critical thinking.

Playing chess, solving puzzles, crossword puzzles, sudoku, and even coloring the trendy mandalas are all examples of what you can do in your free time, before bed, to clear your mind and focus on one thing.

Healthy eating

If you want your mood to improve, then we suggest that you eat foods rich in tryptophan, which is an amino acid that produces serotonin, which produces relaxation, a sense of well-being and therefore happiness. You can find it in oats, spinach, red fruits, chickpeas and almonds.

If you want your stress levels to be reduced, then eat dark chocolate with lots of cocoa, which helps control cortisol (stress hormone) levels, which, among other things, increases blood pressure.

Drawing up achievable goals

It is always good to give our best to achieve our goals, but it is bad to overdo it. That is why we recommend that you draw up objectives that are within your reach and that you set a date to achieve them.

Also, setting a goal and making a life plan around it will help you maintain healthier habits, such as exercising and always being motivated in what you are doing.

Creates good relationships

Maintaining good interpersonal relationships will always be positive for your health. Toxic relationships, whether with family, friends or your partner, will not give you any benefits and will only cause more worries.

You need to look for or give more importance to the bonds you have with the people who make you happy, who add to you, who support you. These people are known as “medicine people” because they can help you feel better when you need it most.

Make exercise a habit

For physical activity to have a positive effect on your life, not only physically but also emotionally, you need to do it regularly and consistently. Between 3 and 4 days a week is what specialists recommend.

As it is known, exercise is a powerful producer of endorphins and serotonin, which will make you feel much better. Besides, it is able to numb emotional pains and divert our attention from worries.

Having an established exercise routine and putting it into practice will also give you the following benefits: pleasant sleep, better self-esteem, desire to overcome, eliminate anger, stress and anxiety.

You know, taking care of your health is simple. Put these tips into practice and turn your life around. If it was useful for you.