It's okay not to be okay: A gentle guide to mental health

 World is really cruel. People will tell you to live according to them. In the middle of hustling, trying to prove and becoming a valuable asset. Sometimes, it becomes really hard to concentrate and we feel mentally tired. It becomes difficult to explain someone how we feel. Due to this coping up with the world becomes crucial. And our performance decreases. Our self-confidence goes down. Even if we take our physical health very seriously and we are told to do so as well. It's equally important to prioritise our mental health. This blog is a reminder that mental health is as equal as physical health and it's completely okay not to be okay.

WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?

Mental health is a collection of our emotional, phycological and our social well-being. It has a huge impact in our lifestyles. It controls how we feel, see and even act. If we are mentally not okay it doesn't mean that we are mentally ill or crazy. It just simply means that we are not well right now and need some time to rest and gather ourselves in order to be more strong and have a comeback. It's a state of overall wellbeing.

WHY IS MENTAL HEALTH IMPORTANT?

In order to live a stress free life and be happy. Mental health is really important. Otherwise we will just exist, without actually living. It has impact on every phase of our life, like relationships, work, academics, and even physical health. Taking care of it helps us to:

• Build healthy relationships
• Be productive
• Being positive
• Making healthy choices
• Building self-confidence
• Coping up with stress

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

Mental health challenges are faced by us on a daily basis. It can look like a normal stress or an anxiety. But with our proper care or if ignoring these signs it can lead to depression, anxiety disorder or even bipolar disorder. But these are not our weaknesses. Accepting them, trying to stay strong, treating them and not giving up are our biggest strength.

SIGNS YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE

It's really important to acknowledge these signs so that we will never fall in too deep:

Persistent sadness or low mood: Feeling down for an extended period is a red flag.

Excessive worry or anxiety: Constant worrying that interferes with daily life.

Changes in sleep or appetite: Significant shifts in sleeping or eating patterns.

Difficulty concentrating: Trouble focusing or making decisions.

Withdrawal from social activities: Isolating yourself from friends and family.

Irritability or anger: Feeling easily agitated or snapping at others.

Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless: Struggling to cope with daily tasks and feeling like things won't get better. 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Firstly stop treating yourself like an enemy and stop becoming your own enemy and hating yourself. Start being kind to yourself. Admire little things about you. Taking care of your mental health is an ongoing process. Here are some steps you can take:

Talk to someone: Sharing your feelings with a trusted friend, family member, or therapist can make a world of difference.

Remember, if in case you don't have trust worthy people it's okay don't feel lonely. It's better to have no friends than having snakes in life. Enjoy your own company. 

• Practice self-care: Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it's reading (keeps us engaged), exercising (builds confidence), spending time in nature (brings peace), listening to music and even dancing (refreshes our mood). Personally, dancing is my favourite. Dancing without a care in this world. Not minding your steps. Without any perfection. Just enjoying ourselves is like a therapy.
• Prioritise sleep: Adequate sleep is crucial for mental and physical well-being. It's okay to sleep for hours. After all you are important. Who cares?
• Eat a healthy diet: Nourishing your body with nutritious foods can positively impact your mood and energy levels. Eating healthy not only boots our energy levels but is also good for our skin. If you're looking good it immediately boots our confidence and lifts our mood. 
• Exercise regularly: Physical activity releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. It increases concentrating and confidence as we get in good shape. We look more attractive. 
• Set realistic goals: Avoid overloading yourself and break down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Setting goals whether it is a long term or short term. If setting a long term goal keep in mind we have to achieve short term goals first. Achieving them gives us hope. Taking small steps one at a time helps a lot in achieving our goals.
• Seek professional help: If you're struggling, don't hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional. Therapy and medication can be effective treatments for various mental health conditions.

Love, remember you are important. don't put faith in anyone but yourself. Even if you are alone. You are enough. You have come this far and sometimes it's okay to feel down in order to lift ourselves back up with more power, more strength and learn something. It's life, no one's gonna remember you after you die after some time everyone's gonna forget and get busy with their lives. So who cares? Just be kind to yourself and others. Love animals around you. They are the only ones who loves you without any condition. Find happiness in little things. Forgive yourself. Improve yourself. You can face this and you are gonna be okay.