Improving Your Mental Health

Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. Let us all join the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Let’s help to fight stigma, provide support, learn to take time for ourselves, seek professional help when needed and check in on family, friends and neighbors.

This past year presented so many different challenges and obstacles that tested our strength and resiliency. The global pandemic forced us to cope with situations we never even imagined, and a lot of us struggled with our mental health as a result. Throughout the pandemic, many people who had never experienced mental health challenges found themselves struggling for the first time.

It’s important to remember that working on your mental health and finding tools that help takes time. Changes don’t happen overnight. By focusing on small changes, you can move through the stressors of the past year and develop long-term strategies to support yourself on an ongoing basis. A great starting point for anyone who is ready to start prioritizing their mental health is to take a mental health screening. There are several online resources available, including one with West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, wygc.org.

Taking time for yourself is another way to improve your mental health. Much like taking care of your physical health, we need to take care of our mental health. Self-care is proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels while increasing self-compassion. Here are a few tips for taking care of yourself:

Accept yourself as you are. Try your best to accept the person that you are and where you are in life right now.

Focus on the basics. Focus on steps to ensure you are living a healthy lifestyle. For example: showering, eating healthy foods, drinking water, moving your body, decreasing clutter in your life, keeping your living environment clean and orderly, getting good sleep, soaking up some sunshine (safely), taking five minutes to do some deep breathing and reaching out to have a conversation with a friend or family member.

Find what makes you happy. Find things you can do to make you feel accomplished and happy. For example: music, art, a good book, a walk outdoors, gardening, cooking or a little road trip.

Practice mindfulness. Take a few slow, deep breaths, focus on each of your senses and try to be fully present in whatever you are doing.

Make small goals. Be patient, focus on small daily tasks, set small goals that you want to accomplish for yourself.

Set boundaries. Sometimes the only way to increase self-care is to lessen the amount of time or energy that you are giving away to others.

Remember that you are not alone. Everyone struggles from time to time, try not to get down on yourself. Ask your friends or family to help when you need to take some time for your mental health.

Please remember that mental illnesses are real and recovery is possible. It is possible to find balance between life’s ups and downs and continue to cope with challenges brought on by life and the pandemic. Take some time and do a few small things in your daily routine that will increase your physical and mental health. QCBN

By Deanna Eder

Deanna Eder is the director of marketing and development at West Yavapai Guidance Clinic. For more information, visit wygc.org.