Healthnotes Library
Mental Health: More Than the Absence of Mental Illness
Published April 2010 / Reviewed November 2011
When mental health is brought up in a conversation, most people's initial reaction is to think of it as the absence of a mental illness. But mental health is much more than the lack of an illness. Mentally healthy people feel good about themselves, are comfortable with other people and are able to meet the demands of life. Mental health needs to be a priority in our lives and cared for just as we care for our physical health.
For many of us, achieving or maintaining mental wellness is becoming increasingly difficult as we try to navigate our modern American world. Stressors come in many forms—job and financial uncertainties, balancing the demands of work and family and dealing with a culture where we are always connected. When faced with multiple stressors, many of us try to ignore them and assume that they will go away. This is a dangerous thing to do as stress can physically harm our bodies and our minds leading us to believe that we cannot take steps to gain control of our lives and our mental health. Prolonged stress has a negative impact on mental health, resulting in changes in emotions, thoughts and attitudes. It also leads to decreases in energy levels and productivity and ultimately to a decline in overall health.
Below is a series of tools that can be used to help combat stress resulting in greater levels of mental and physical wellness. These tools are part of the Live Your Life Well campaign developed by Mental Health America. While many of the tools seem like basic common sense, they are based on a body of scientific evidence taken from both behavioral and medical research. By integrating these tools into your everyday life, you can buffer the negative impact of stress and promote your health and mental well-being. The best part of these tools is that they don't require major changes in your lifestyle. Pick two or three that are relevant to your situation and make them a consistent part of your life. Once you have mastered them, you can move on to others.
Connect with Others Humans are social animals and we crave feeling supported, valued and connected. We have all walked away from coffee with a friend and felt better. Now research is confirming the reality of these feelings as it shows that feeling socially connected results in increased happiness, better health and longer life. Spend time with people who are positive and care about you.
Stay Positive Thinking negatively can drag down your mood and your health. Research shows that we can change our thought patterns and become more positive. As we replace negative thoughts with positive ones, the activities in our brains change, making it easier to stay positive. To start thinking more positively, foster optimism in your life and relationships, be grateful for what you have and avoid negative thinking.
Get Physically Active We are always being told that exercise is a key ingredient in maintaining our physical health, but did you know that regular exercise provides a buffering effect on the way the body reacts to stressful life events. While it is not exactly clear how exercise works, experts say that it relieves pent up muscle tension, stimulates feel good hormones, burns off stress hormones and increases blood flow to the brain.
Help Others If you help your neighbor, it's good for her, but it's good for you too. Research indicates that those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm, fewer pains and better health. They may even live longer. You don't need to make the grand gesture or make a long term commitment; find ways to help that fit into your life situation and will not become a burden over time.
Get Enough Rest Sleep may seem like a waste of time when there is so much to do, but being tired can hurt your health and your relationships. Two thirds of Americans say that they lose sleep because of stress and by not sleeping we make our stress levels and our overall health worse. Make getting a good night's sleep a priority in your life.
Create Joy and Satisfaction Go ahead, kick up your heels or just kick back, but have some fun. In our hectic society, having fun has fallen pretty low on many people’s to-do list but studies show that experiencing good feelings boosts our ability to bounce back from stress, solve problems, think flexibly and even fight disease. Feeling good is good for you.
Eat Well Our bodies—and our brains—need good fuel to function well. Good food can boost your energy, lower rates of developing certain diseases, provide fuel for the brain, counteract the impact of stress on the body and affect mood-related body chemicals. However, when we are under stress, a recent survey found that nearly half of Americans overeat or eat unhealthy foods as a way to cope with the stress. So make a consistent effort to monitor what you eat.
Take Care of Your Spirit Connect to whatever you consider meaningful and holy, whether it is God, nature, art or something deep within yourself. Spirituality can provide a sense of purpose and meaning and remind you of the good in the world. Spirituality is linked to good health as it seems to cut the stress that so often triggers diseases.
Deal Better with Hard Times Most of us will face some particularly tough times in our lives such as the death of a loved one or a divorce. Having ways to cope with these challenges can protect your health and well-being. Be pro-active in your approach to the hard times. Take a problem-solving stance, shift your thinking and seek support to get through the situation.
Get Professional Help If You Need It Sometimes we can't handle the stress on our own and the problems in our life stop us from functioning well or feeling good. It is at that point that you should seek professional help. Mental health problems are not a sign of weakness; one in four adults in this country has a mental health problem in any given year so you are far from being alone. The good news is that most people who seek professional help report that they feel better. More than 80 percent of people treated for depression improve and treatment for panic disorders has up to a 90 percent success rate.
This is a quick overview of the 10 tools that can help you to Live Your Life Well. To get more information and more specific suggestions on each of the tools, visit the Mental Health America website at www.nmha.org. For information on local resources and services or to talk to someone directly, contact the Mental Health Association at 585-325-3145 or visit our website at www.mharochester.org.
About the Author
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Patricia Woods, ACSW
Patricia Woods, ACSW is President/CEO of the Mental Health Association of Rochester/Monroe County, an affiliate of Mental Health America. Ms. Woods has a Masters in Social Work from SUNY Albany and has worked in the mental health field both in Albany and Rochester for thirty years. She serves on a number of local committees and boards. |
Notice:
The Rochester Healthnote Library consists of locally-authored articles either commissioned by Rochester Health or republished with the author’s permission. The information provided in the Rochester Healthnote Library is for general informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice and treatment. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other medical professional if you have questions or concerns about a medical condition.
