We often find ourselves in stressful situations, moments where we feel completely overwhelmed. These experiences are normal and something we come to expect day to day. But some days we can’t cope with these emotions and that’s okay because it’s okay not to be okay.
As we are approaching Mental Health Awareness Week, it is important to appreciate how important our mental wellbeing is and the steps we can take to protect it. A week not only for ourselves, but for others and a chance to appreciate how friends and family feel daily and how we can show our support.
What is wellbeing?
According to Mental Health Foundation “mental wellbeing does not have a single universal definition, but it does encompass factors such as:
- The sense of feeling good about ourselves and being able to function well individually or in relationships
- The ability to deal with the ups and downs of life, such as coping with challenges and making the most of opportunities
- The feeling of connection to our community and surroundings
- Having control and freedom over our lives
- Having a sense of purpose and feeling valued
Of course, mental wellbeing does not mean being happy all the time, and it does not mean that you won’t experience negative or painful emotions, such as grief, loss, or failure, which are a part of normal life. However, whatever your age, being physically active can help you to lead a mentally healthier life and can improve your wellbeing.”
I have put together my three top tips to get through those particularly tough days.
Take a step back
This is a crucial part for a lot of us. Situations can be stressful but sometimes we make a situation a lot more complicated than it has to be. So, take a moment, evaluate the situation, ask yourself if you can deal with the situation and most importantly is it worth the panic?
Company
In keeping with this year’s theme of loneliness, it is essential to those struggling to seek out comfort through surrounding yourself with positive influences. Whether its family, friends or even pets having company can help when dealing with overwhelming situations.
Fun
When life gets busy it is important to have fun by finding activities that you enjoy or hobbies that you want to focus on. Whether it is going to the gym, going to an art class or enjoy a film there are many activities that will distract your mind and give you a new focus.
These are only a few of the ways that you can learn to live alongside your mental health. For me this message is crucial, when it comes to mental health, we are all individuals and not everyone will deal with it the same and that’s okay.
Head over to https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week to find out more ways to support your mental health.
Sources
Our consumer PR agency specialises in connecting everyday brands with everyday people across four core sectors; Consumer PR, Food and Drink PR, Retail PR and Sport, Health & Wellbeing PR.