Mental Health;Bounce Back From Adversity, Trauma, And Stress

Mental health issues are very common in the youth society today. I truly agree that it is somewhat tough been a teen. With the many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes that accompany this stage of life; we often find ourselves stressed out while trying to maintain a good balance between our goals, school, family, relationships, etc., whereas still trying to enjoy our teenage years.

While in the process of growing up, you need to learn how to control your emotions and behavior or it will likely control you. By doing this; you will eventually build strong relationships, handle life’s inevitable challenges, lead productive and fulfill life:)

While many teenagers often focus on their mental and emotional health only when they develop a mental health issue, it requires effort to maintain a healthy mental and emotional health just as it requires the same principle to build or maintain a physical health.

The more time and energy you invest in doing this, the more power you will have over controlling any mental health issues thrown your way. These issues will likely bounce back and you could move on. Am not saying that being emotionally and mentally healthy eliminates all the problems you are or will be facing in the near future. It doesn’t mean that you won’t go through a few rough times every now and them. We all go through a series of problems every so often. It’s a part of life. While all these normal part of living problems can cause discomfort, unhappiness, stress, and anxiety;

the difference is that people with a healthier mental health can handle these tough moments much better than those who lack mental health. They have the ability to bounce back from adversity, trauma, and stress. This ability is called also Resilience.

According to the Wikipedia.org "Resilience" in psychology is the positive capacity of people to cope with stress and adversity. This coping may result in the individual “bouncing back” to a previous state of normal functioning, or using the experience of exposure to adversity to produce a “steeling effect” and function better than expected (much like an inoculation gives one the capacity to cope well with future exposure to disease)Resilience is most commonly understood as a process, and not a trait of an individual.

Coping with mental health issues can be difficult. But once you build Resilience. You build mental health. Teens with a good mental health have resilience ability. They can remain focused, flexible, and maintain a positive outlook in bad moments as well as good ones. They are able to balance and express their emotions while mentioning self confidence and high self-esteem.

Building Your Resilience

''Resilience involves maintaining flexibility and balance in your life as you deal with stressful circumstances and traumatic events. This happens in several ways, including:

— Letting yourself experience strong emotions, and also realizing when you may need to avoid experiencing them at times in order to continue functioning.

— Stepping forward and taking action to deal with your problems and meet the demands of daily living, and also stepping back to rest and reenergize yourself.

— Spending time with loved ones to gain support and encouragement, and also nurturing yourself.

— Relying on others, and also relying on yourself.''

Source: American Psychological Association and http://helpguide.org/

Balance Between Physical And Mental Health

‘’You may be wondering how staying physically active can help your mental health. Well; mind-body interaction happens on a daily basis. If your body is healthy, than there's a better chance that your brain will also be healthy. This in turn will boost your self-esteem, mood, and overall mental state.

Your mind and body is linked together. When you improve your physical health, you’ll automatically experience greater mental and emotional well-being. ''For example, exercise not only strengthens our heart and lungs, but also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals that energize us and lift our mood.’’

Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday.

Exercise helps to bring blood and oxygen to your brain, which helps to improve memory, reasoning, and reaction times. Studies have shown that even exercising 3 times a day for ten minute intervals can provide you with great mind enhancement. Keeping physically fit will also help to ward off heart problems like heart attack, stroke, and hypertension. Heart problems can drastically affect your brain function, as it is the heart that supplies the brain with nutrients. So if you want your memory to last a long time, look after that heart as well!

Maintain a Balanced Diet

A balanced diet can go a long way to improving both how your brain functions and how you feel about yourself. Keep your mind active by eating lots of carbohydrates. Your brain gets all of its energy from glucose, a sugar it needs to take from carbohydrates. Wholegrain breads and cereals will give your brain the energy needed to remember, make decisions, and think. Carbohydrates are also a great way to improve your mood. They help to boost serotonin levels in the brain, which are responsible for monitoring mood.

It is important to maintain a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet in order to keep your heart and blood vessels healthy. This type of diet can also help to address numerous mental health issues. Your brain relies on your blood vessels in order to supply it with nutrients, so if they are all clogged up your brain just can't function well. Try to eat lots of fruits and veggies too, especially those with antioxidants. Antioxidants help to keep your brain cells healthy and prevent your arteries from clogging. Try colorful fruits and vegetables like blueberries, oranges, and spinach.

It is also a good idea to reduce your alcohol intake. Alcohol acts as a depressant, and it can leave you down in the dumps. It is also responsible for causing serious damage to your brain when taken in large quantities.

Exercise Your Mind

Many of us exercise our bodies to stay fit, but we tend to ignore the fact that our brains need exercise too! Simple mind puzzles like crosswords or word searches, cards, or Trivial Pursuit can keep your mind in tip-top shape. Try reading the newspaper every morning or tuning into the nightly news for a quick mental health treatment. Taking a class, whether it is Shakespeare Appreciation or pottery, can also keep your mind feeling fresh and active. Simple changes like taking up a new hobby or having a conversation with your coworker can also stimulate the brain. Research shows that these mental exercises can help reduce memory loss by up to 50%.

Reduce Your Stress

Life can be pretty hectic sometimes and we often fail to realize how much stress we are actually under. Stress can affect our mood, memory, and mind development, so it's a good idea to reduce stress whenever possible. When you experience stress, you release special hormones that get your body to perform certain actions. Long-term or chronic stress can cause too many of these hormones to enter your system. This can kill special cells in your brain responsible for laying down new memories or accessing old information.

To reduce stress, practice deep breathing exercises. Breathe in through you nose and out through your mouth. This will help to regulate your heartbeat and keep you focused. Listening to music at home or at the office will also keep you calm and on task. Cut back on the amount of caffeine and nicotine that you ingest; these work as stimulants in your body, and can often make stress even worse. Some of the best stress relievers are things that you can do at home. Take a relaxing bath or shower, or make time for your favorite television show. Writing in a journal for even fifteen minutes a day can also help you to get out all those pent up emotions.

Increase your Self-Esteem

Maintaining a healthy self-esteem is integral to your mental health. It has everything to do with loving yourself, body and excepting who you are. Low self-esteem has been linked to mood disorders, eating disorders ,drug and alcohol abuse, and chronic fatigue. It can also increase your stress levels and make it difficult to function at work or at school. A person with healthy self-esteem realizes both her strengths and her weaknesses. She is able to accept herself for who she is and realizes that she is a worthwhile person. Many people are simply unable to recognize their achievements and self-value. Improving your self-esteem can go miles to lifting your mood, improving your mental ability, and your enjoyment of life.

It can be difficult to improve your self-esteem, it can take years to come to realize who you are and that you are important. But you can begin by following these three tips:

• Don't listen to the negative messages you give yourself. Rephrase those negative comments to make them positive.

• Take care of yourself. Eat well, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Make time for things that you find enjoyable.

• Reward yourself for a job well done. Remember your achievements.

• Ask for support. Improving your mental health sometimes means seeking help from others. Talk with your family, friends, or get some mental health counseling to help you improve your self-esteem.''

Sources http://www.epigee.org

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