INTRODUCTION
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, but taking care of it can be more confusing. When your arm or your leg hurts, it’s easier to find a remedy. But when you hurt on the inside, it can be hard to know where to turn or what to do.
DEFINITION OF MENTAL HEALTH
“Mental health” refers to our psychological and emotional wellbeing. There are many mental health issues and disorders, from which millions suffer every year. Mental health disorders include depression, anxiety, paranoia, various personality disorders (borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, etc.), disordered eating, and addictive behaviors. Most mental health disorders are not observable or blatantly obvious to others. However, there are people out there who do not view mental health as important. There is also much stigma surrounding mental health issues, which can make it difficult for many to seek help.
RESOURCES AT NC STATE THAT CAN HELP YOU
Mental health is taken very seriously by the NC State Community and there are many resources here that are designed to help you. The NC State University Counseling Center provides consultation services that will determine your level of care. If you are concerned about your own mental health, or the mental health of someone you know, feel free to call the Counseling Center at (919) 515-2423 or visit their page here.
NC State CARES is a mental health service that is not included with the Counseling Center. CARES is a system that is focused on helping students who have exhibited worrisome behaviors. When CARES is dispatched, trained case workers meet with students, provide them with resources, and do consistent checks on their welfare.
TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Setting limitations
Setting limitations and boundaries allows you to recognize when you are overwhelmed. Doing so is as simple as saying “no” or telling others that you have a lot on your plate and need to focus on other projects before offering help. Limitations and boundaries also come in handy with your personal relationships. It is important to self-reflect, respect the boundaries of others, and remain consistent with your limitations and boundaries.
Recognizing when you’re becoming overwhelmed
If you are starting to feel overwhelmed, it is important to understand why…if you have taken on too many commitments or responsibilities, it may be time to bring that to the attention of your teammates. It can be extremely beneficial to talk to someone you trust, as they can give you a new perspective, solutions, and/or a sympathetic ear. In terms of managing what you need to juggle, it is also important to plan ahead and come up with a schedule that accommodates you and allows everything to be completed on time and accurately.
Seeking help
Everyone has been there…feeling overextended, sad, anxious, or angry. These feelings are completely normal, but it is not normal to feel such ways on a consistent basis. If you can feel your mood shift entirely to feelings of constant angst or emotional upset, then it might be time to seek help. A trained mental health professional (a therapist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a counselor) can make a gigantic difference in improving your mental health. People in your life who are good listeners and very supportive can also be an option, if seeing someone professionally is not feasible. Some people are not as good at listening as others and some find it difficult to be a sympathetic ear. Sometimes, speaking to the wrong person can worsen your mental health…which makes choosing a neutral party, like a mental health professional, a good choice.
Acknowledging your feelings
Acknowledging how you feel validates your mental health. Accepting the fact that you feel angry, sad, overworked, or even happy allows you to feel more comfortable with your mental health. This also helps you prepare for negative feelings…if you know how you function when you feel a certain way, this can help you prepare yourself for how you might react. At the same time, however, acknowledging your feelings does not give you an excuse to act in a way that hurts others. Acknowledging and acting out are two entirely different concepts that some get twisted. If you know that you tend to lash out when you are angry, then it is a good idea to separate yourself from a group of people if you cannot get calm and collected. Acknowledging angry feelings is good, but continuing to act in a way that causes great stress to yourself and others is not productive when it comes to preserving your mental health.
Practicing self-care
The concept of “self-care” involves working on yourself in a way that is rewarding long-term. This includes proper nutrition, appropriate sleep, and exercising, even if for only thirty minutes a day. Though it’s not always easily attainable, these forms of self-care are some of the best things you can do for your physical and mental well-being. Proper nutrition can be eating healthier (maybe not every night is possible, but certainly a few nights a week of healthy, nutritious meals), appropriate sleep is getting at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, and exercise can mean a quick jog, a brisk walk, or three sets of floor exercises. You do not have to push yourself when practicing self-care…listen to your body and make the right choices from there.
CONCLUSION
Your mental health is as important as your physical health and it is an enormous priority in your life. There are many resources available that can help you. You can do it!
RESOURCES
9 Essential Steps to Protect Your Mental Health
7 Ways to Manage Feeling Overwhelmed at Work