* Disclaimer : All opinions expressed in this article are the writers own. The opinions reflected are not to be used in place of professional medical advice. *
Although talking about mental health has been progressively normalized throughout the years, the truth is that some people still don’t quite understand what it means. We talk about therapy, anxiety, and all things encompassing, but do we really know how to spot it in our own lives? It is important for all of us to know how to identify it and how to handle it, even if we won’t become experts in the mental health process anytime soon. By process, I mean getting stressing and then destressing, getting tense and then relaxing, and just the idea of realizing what is upsetting us, and how we deal with it. Here are two big steps that once we break down, I think we can all relate to and apply to our own lives.
What Harms Our Mental Health
We can all agree that facing and dealing with stress seems like an almost daily battle, no matter how major or small. Here are some of the main sources of stress that might not seem as big of a deal, but could actually be damaging.
School Related Stress
When it comes to our school life, there are a lot of factors that cause us mental strain and pressure. The main things we think of are tests and quizzes, but even daily things like homework can bring us stress. The constant wondering of what you have due, and whether you have missed an assignment happens to even the best of us. And this is assuming you’re all caught up in your work. If you have anything missing, the pile up of zeros can make you feel overwhelmed. What started off as one or two missing assignments can quickly turn into an exhausting game of catch up, stressing out any student.
Social Stress
The word stress is typically in relation to activities we don’t enjoy, or don’t want to do. But this is not always the case. For example, spending time with friends and family can be relieving and fun, but distressing as well. We all know what it’s like to get into an argument with our friends. What can start out as a disagreement could even lead to an end of a friendship, or something as drastic as a verbal or physical fight. Although a fall out with a friend is hard to go through, it can be equally if not more frustrating to have conflict with someone in your family. A lot of us can relate to having strict parents, or just ones we seem to always be butting heads with. It can be hard to cope when the very people you live with become a major source of stress.
Internal Stress
Think about the saying, “we are our worst critics.” Sound relatable? This is because this is a lot more true than we may think. We want to make ourselves proud, and we can be very negative and harsh if we feel like we aren’t doing that. I know from experience that if you step back to look at these expectations, you realize how unrealistic they can be. Besides standards we put on ourselves, we don’t even take into consideration the ones we create when it comes to other people. We want to look cool or confident, and it doesn’t help that social media is constantly redefining what that looks like. We compare ourselves to the celebrities on our screens, and use them as an unrealistic standard. This can subconsciously create insecurities and self image issues that are a continuous strain on our mental health.
What Can Help Our Mental Health
Now it’s time to look at what can be done after we’re stressed and overwhelmed. Moving on to the next step is not the same thing as avoiding our emotions and going straight to the solution. It can be hard to not only think about, but put into words what we are feeling, but it is truly vital in our growth.There is no time limit to the mental health process, and sometimes the best thing to do is to is just to take as much time as we need. Once we are ready, there are a multitude of things we can do to get those serotonin levels up. Here are 3.
Talk To Someone About It
Think of a time you sat down and talked with a friend about anything that had been bothering you. This could’ve been venting, or both of you guys talking. Im sure you felt better after this. Truth is, some things are just too tough for us to hold inside and try to handle on our own. We become overwhelmed with our own thoughts, and all that it takes to feel better can be to just talk to someone. Whether it’s a friend, family, or a trusted adult, it’s important to identify who it is that we can talk to. Search through your school resources, there may be a school psychologist who is more than willing to talk with you. Even online there are many things like therapy lines that are available to you 24/7.
Take Breaks
Sometimes when stress is too overwhelming, we forget to take a break. We all need a breather from time to time, and we shouldn’t see it as lazy or giving up. We are all human, it is only natural that we don’t run on energy 24/7. Allow yourself to step back from whatever task you are doing to get your mind straight. This can look like taking a walk, going to a cafe, or simply taking a nap. Things as small as these can even improve your health by lowering your blood pressure, decreasing your heart rate, and even releasing tension in our muscles. You will gain emotional clarity, and whatever you were working on will still be there when you’re done.
Do Things You Enjoy
When we’re so caught up in an assignment or task, we lose sight of the things that bring us joy in life. Many of us are a part of clubs, sports, or have hobbies on the side that we feel passionate about. Being busy or working on a task doesn’t mean you have to give all of those things up. Sure, you should be managing your time and not straining yourself with countless activities, but go to that ice cream place after school, hang out with your friends at the mall, etc. Taking time to have fun after a long day or week helps our mental health more than we know.
If you or someone you know is going through an emotional
crisis, there are resources for you.
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” to 741741
SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
