Bridge to Wellness

Mental Health Month: Strategies for improving our mental health

by Anna Webber

May is Mental Health Month. Just like your physical health, mental health can improve with practice and consistently implemented strategies.

People often set goals around their physical health, like working out regularly, eating healthier, and scheduling yearly check-ups with their doctor. Working to improve your mental health can be as challenging as figuring out an exercise routine or implementing healthier eating habits.

What should you focus on first? How does it all connect?

First and foremost, everyone is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution. While trained professionals can help tailor a treatment specific to your needs, the following are some things you can do to focus on your mental health journey:

• Name and validate your feelings. Often, we can name what we are feeling, but then we jump straight to problem-solving without taking a moment to validate that it makes sense to feel that way. This can leave us feeling like certain emotions are wrong, which can send us into a deeper spiral of feeling poorly about ourselves and how we are handling a situation.
• Recognize and reframe negative thinking. After naming and validating the feeling, it is important to make sure our thoughts are accurate because our thoughts are connected to how we feel. And how we feel, in turn, affects how we behave. When we are not honest with ourselves, it impacts how we feel about ourselves or a situation and can cause us to act in a way that might make our situation worse. A good rule of thumb is, if what you are telling yourself is something you wouldn’t say to a best friend or loved one in a similar situation, it is time to reframe and find a kinder way of speaking to yourself—be your own best friend!
• Practice mindfulness and self-care. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment, noticing what’s happening around you and what you’re feeling without passing judgement on it. There are many ways to practice mindfulness and many resources available to help you do so.

Self-care is the act of being kind to yourself and making sure you find ways to balance your responsibilities with things you enjoy. Self-care can be getting outside for a walk, joining friends out to eat, or snuggling in to binge your favorite show. It’s the practice of tuning in to your needs and making sure they are being met just as much as you work to meet the needs of those around you.

If you are struggling and need guidance to manage your mental health, talking to a professional can help. Check out srslystockbridge.org for a list of local and national resources.

Thoughts are connected to how we feel, and how we feel, in turn, affects how we behave. Image credit: Miquel Parera on Unsplash.com

This column is sponsored by the Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition (SAWC).  Anna Webber is a licensed social worker and, along with the Community Health Improvement Team at Chelsea Hospital, coordinates the SRSLY Manchester and Stockbridge programs.