Being physically ill means your symptoms are visible to the world. Whatever is happening to you is clear and evident – no one can deny it.
However, when it comes to mental health, the damage happens internally. People don’t easily understand what you’re going through, and it’s difficult to prove that you’re not okay. So, the best person who can really help you is you.
In this post, we have shared five dos and don’ts to improve your mental well-being. These tips are tested by professionals and are 100% guaranteed to make you feel better. Read more!
1.Do – Allow Yourself to Feel
According to research, people who avoid their feelings or bottle them up have a hard time with their mental health. This is because pain never really goes away.
You can learn not to feel things at the moment and instead use your logical side to handle the situation. But this doesn’t mean you weren’t hurt. Sooner or later, those feelings will return and circulate inside of you – wanting to be felt.
Good or bad, a human should experience all those emotions he is capable of feeling. Doing so will make you feel less burdened, exhausted, and tired of life. This is because you will be actually living it.
2.Don’t – Criticize Yourself for Who You Are
When something bad happens in our lives, the first person we blame is ourselves. We believe we are incompetent, weak, and unworthy. We view ourselves as a shattered soul who doesn’t deserve any good in the world.
This is a wrong and totally biased perception that you have created for yourself. Take a deep breath and relax. You are just as human as others.
So, of course, you will make mistakes. You will not be as perfect as you want yourself to be. You will fail sometimes, and you will hurt other people too.
But all of this doesn’t mean you are a bad person. You’re a changing and evolving being. It’s your first time living like every other person. So, don’t let that inner critic destroy your self-esteem; instead, be gentle and kind to yourself.
3.Do – Learn to Regulate Your Feelings
Feeling your emotions is not all. You need to learn how to regulate your feelings to become a more mentally stable version of yourself. This is because not all emotions are worthy of being expressed.
For example, if you feel intense anger towards someone you love, you shouldn’t start yelling and screaming at the person – just because you are feeling like it. You can damage your relationship at that moment.
Instead, redirect your emotions. Focus on something else or leave the place and do something that gets you busy. Then, use this time to process your emotions. Why did you feel that way? Was there a justified reason behind it?
If you feel like the emotion was unjustified and probably a trauma response, start keeping track of all the times that make you feel like that. Notice your triggers and find cheerful activities to regulate those emotions.
4.Don’t – Let Others Define You
Throughout our lives, we hear a lot of bad things about us. It’s easy to let these perspectives seep into our minds and make us believe we are like that. This is not true.
What people say about us actually reflects what kind of a person they are. Will a good person ever call someone bad names? No, they will communicate their thoughts with the person and help them out kindly.
So, don’t let others define you. Be your own judge and analyze your strengths and weaknesses yourself. If someone has to define you, it should be you – no one else.
5.Do – Practice Gratitude
Thankfulness is important to stay optimistic and happy, especially when our lives take a dark turn. You may feel sad, worried, and stressed every day because of what is going around in your life or what isn’t.
In these times, don’t focus on the negative aspects only. Instead, grab a journal and list things you are grateful for every day. This will remind you that life is not so bad after all. Your times might be difficult right now, but there are still things to be loved and grateful for. ❤