How to Keep Your
Mental Health Healthy
We all fall into a slump now
and then. We may feel sad, lethargic, or simply out of control with crazy
family schedules.
Along with demanding
schedules and general moodiness that can come and go, we also may be
dealing with difficult family problems or work stresses that put
additional strain on our lives.
Have you ever wondered how
to stay positive and keep your mental health healthy, even in the midst of
life's greatest challenges? May is Mental Health Month and Eric Smemo,
clinical director with Lutheran Social Service, has some ideas.
"Spring is a good template
for our mental health," Smemo says. "We generally exercise more, we enjoy
more sunshine, we take vacations, and we re-engage in activities that we
enjoy doing around the house and in the community. This all gives us a
good formula for the rest of the year, especially for winter months when
sunlight diminishes and we tend not to take a break from frenetic personal
and work schedules."
Lutheran Social Service
offers some general tips to help you keep your mental health in good
working order:
Eat right: Don't
forget the basics! If you are overeating or not eating healthy, vow to
return to a diet plentiful in fruits, vegetables and whole grains that
will help you feel better and provide you with important nutrients
antioxidants you need for each day.
Exercise: The USDA
recommends that we get out and enjoy some type of regular exercise five
times a week with at least 30 minutes devoted to each activity. Regular
times of walking, biking, golfing, and swimming are all excellent ways to
improve our mental health.
Meaningful Activities:
Get involved in volunteer, church or civic activities. When we give back,
we gain a good feeling and that can help us keep our mental health on
track.
Treat Yourself:
Everyone needs a break now and then, or a positive experience to take our
mind off of situations that may be putting too much stress on our lives.
Consider signing up for a weekend away, or dining out for lunch with
friends. Re-energize yourself with a massage or indulge yourself with a
special treat that you enjoy.
Seek Support: When
you feel down or overwhelmed, avoid isolation. Surround yourself with
supportive friends, family members or a trusted confident with whom you
can share your thoughts and feelings.
"Often, when we feel
overwhelmed or stressed, we give up the things that help us stay healthy,
like time for exercise and good eating habits," Smemo says. "It is exactly
at times of overstress that we need to ramp up on all of these basics of
self-care."
Smemo also likens the
importance of good mental health to airline safety. "The flight attendant
instructs us to put on our oxygen mask first and then help others," Smemo
explains. "In the same way, we need to pay attention to our own mental
health and be intentional in keeping our mental health healthy before we
can be helpful to others."
If your mental health needs
a boost, you may want to talk with your pastor or set up an appointment to
talk confidentially with a counselor at Lutheran Social Service.
Lutheran Social Service
offers individual, couple, and family counseling through 44 professional
offices statewide. Many counselors are specially trained with various
areas of experience, including healthy relationships, grief and loss,
depression and child therapy. For more information, call 1.888.881.8261.
The non-profit organization
serves over 100,000 Minnesotans yearly with services in 300 Minnesota
communities, and a professional staff of 2,300 people. Lutheran Social
Service serves all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion,
national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age. Comprehensive
information about statewide services can be found through the agency's web
site at www.lssmn.org
