You know that the best way to be happy and healthy is to work out and eat right. Still, there are a lot of other things that can also affect your mental health. These small habits and events may not seem important, but they can cause or make your mental health problems worse.
Watch out for these six surprising things so you can protect your mind from them and live a happier, more peaceful life.
1. Chronic Stress
Most people think that poor mental health is caused by things that change their lives, like car accidents, the death of a loved one, and other traumatic events. But research shows that everyday stress is what makes your mind worse.
When you’re stressed all the time, your brain makes more myelin, which can literally make your brain smaller and throw off the balance between its white and gray matter. Over time, the cumulative effects will wear down your mood and memory centers, making it more likely that you will get a mental illness.
2. The Seasons
It’s normal to feel down sometimes, but if your mood goes up and down with the seasons, you might have seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Most people with SAD have signs and symptoms in the winter. But if you have spring or summer SAD, your appetite, how you sleep, and mood may change during the warmer months.
Researchers haven’t found a clear cause of SAD, but low levels of melatonin and serotonin may play a role. Your internal clock and vitamin D levels may also be thrown off by less sunlight. In this case, lamps that use light therapy may help.
3. Sleeping Problems
When it comes to your internal clock, it’s very sensitive. Even a small change can change the way you wake up and go to sleep, which can lead to insomnia, hypersomnia, and other sleeping problems. Poor sleep can make it hard to deal with even small stresses and make depression and anxiety symptoms worse. In turn, these conditions will make it even harder to sleep, starting a cycle of bad mental and physical health that will be hard to break.
Because of this, it’s important that you get the recommended seven to nine hours of deep, restful sleep every night. Every day, get up at the same time and go to bed at the same time. Most of the time, your body and brain will find a way to work together again.
4. Oral Hygiene
It might seem strange, but good oral health is a big part of having a healthy mind. Researchers have recently found that serious dental problems can cause or make some mental illnesses worse. When your symptoms get worse, you will be less likely to brush and floss.
Again, there is a cyclical relationship between these two things, and each one affects the other. One good choice can put you on the road to recovery, though. If you take care of your teeth, your symptoms will go away. Taking care of your mental health can also make you more clean.
5. Physical Pain
The body and brain are obviously connected in a way that can’t be broken. The brain is more likely to be sick when the body is sick, and vice versa. So it makes sense that physical pain can affect mental health.
About 32 million Americans say they have constant pain, and 25% or more of them are also depressed. At the same time, 65% of people with depression say they have physical pain. Because some of the nerve pathways and neurotransmitters in the brain and spinal cord are the same for both pain and depression. So, the best way to make a good treatment plan is to look at the whole person.
6. Substance Use
Some people use drugs and alcohol to deal with anxiety and depression. Short-term, these drugs can make you feel better, but they can also make you addicted and hurt your health in the long run.
Because these drugs dull your feelings, when the high wears off, you might feel even worse. So, it’s best to feel your feelings as they come up and find better, more healthy ways to deal with them. You won’t be able to hide from mental and emotional pain if you do this, but you will be able to heal.
Taking Care of Yourself
If you’ve noticed that any of these things are affecting your mental health, you should take charge and do what you need to do to fix it. First, take care of your physical health by reducing long-term stress, staying away from drugs and alcohol, and keeping good hygiene and sleep habits.
Self-care that takes care of your physical needs will always make you feel better mentally. But because it’s a cycle, you might not be able to get out of a downward spiral once you’re in it. In this case, it would be best to ask family and friends for help. You should see your doctor for more treatment and to start getting better. Your brain and body will get better over time, so you can get back to taking care of yourself and avoiding mental blocks in the future.
