Although often overlooked, mental health is just as important as physical health. Whether you have a mental disorder or are going through a difficult time due to external factors, a psychiatrist can provide professional help. You can also follow several self-care tips outside of treatment to help make your mental health journey easier.
Self-care is crucial for anyone, but especially for individuals who are struggling with their mental health. Showing up and caring for yourself can have a de-stressing effect, improve physical health, and increase the efficacy of professional mental health treatment. To get started, check out these five self-care tips from a psychiatrist:
Getting enough exercise and eating well can help improve both physical and mental health. Further, staying fit and well-nourished can be easier than some believe. According to the Mayo Clinic, even 30 minutes of walking per day can help. As for nutrition, try eating well-balanced meals by incorporating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and protein.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), getting a good night’s sleep improves mood and overall brain performance. With the proper amount of sleep on a regular basis, the body can reset, relax, and repair. However, always trying to catch up on missed sleep, especially via weekend catchups, leaves the body tired and without sufficient time to reap the benefits of sleep.
Patients are likely to hear this in relation to professional treatment, but it is also crucial to set realistic goals outside of treatment. For example, do not try to pack too much into a day or socialize too much in one weekend. Mental health treatment takes time and can be taxing; as a result, many patients find they have less energy than usual in the early days of treatment. Take it slow and be patient. Treatment should get easier as one progresses through it. After all, the goal is to empower the patient to function at their highest, healthiest level.
In the early days, it is easy to get caught up in mental health treatment and forget that one is doing all this work so they can live a full life. However, you do not have to wait until the end of treatment to enjoy life. Try to make time for friends, family, and hobbies.
Recovery has never been a straight line, and it will continue not to be one for most patients. This self-care tip encourages patients to take it easy on themselves during those bad days when all their symptoms seem to flare up. It is normal to backslide. The key is not to let these backslides in recovery discourage one from progressing through treatment.
Improving mental health can be hard, but you do not have to do it alone. A psychiatrist can provide guidance and professional treatments to help you make it through this hard time. Contact our New York office today to learn more.
Request an appointment here: https://www.hopetmsofny.com or call Hope TMS and Neuropsychiatric Center at (646) 578-8152 for an appointment in our New York office.
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