This week marks the annual Mental Health Awareness Week. We should all take this opportunity to talk about all aspects of mental health and wellbeing. It's true that many of us feel uncomfortable talking about our feelings, even with those closest to us. However, holding our emotions in cause them to spiral and lead to a lack of emotional awareness and unhappiness.
The changes that COVID-19 enforced on the world have without doubt caused distress and the fluctuation of emotions within most of us. Whether you've felt isolated, alone, scared or lonely, believe us, you're not! Allowing stress to manifest into both physical and psychological symptoms can affect your ability to enjoy life, and we don't want that now, do we!
Please remember, it's completely natural to feel any sort of way! Your feelings and emotions are all your own, so together, let's own them. Letting stress escalate to more significant problems is not something we do on team Think English.
The Theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 is nature. Nature is central to our psychological and mental health; therefore, access to the natural world is essential for our emotional health. We understand that spending time outside has been one of the most key factors in helping people deal with the uncertainty and stress of the Covid-19 pandemic.
There are a few things we can do to ensure we keep ourselves mentally healthy:
1) Going for walks can help us consciously notice, consider and pause to appreciate the positive things in nature.
2) While stress is sometimes inevitable, understanding what causes it and how to deal with it is critical to maintaining good mental health.
3) Maintaining good relationships and talking openly to friends or family is crucial for our self-esteem and seeking help when we are not feeling great.
4) Exercise is vital in maintaining good mental health. Being physically active gives you a sense of achievement, but it also boosts the chemicals in your brain that help you stay in a good mood. Exercising can help with low mood, stress and feeling tired.
5) Ask for help. Recognizing when you're not feeling well and knowing when to seek help is essential for maintaining mental health. If you're feeling down or stressed, there's no shame in asking for help. Everyone has times in their lives when they don't feel as good as they should.
Technology has made it possible for many of us to keep in touch with loved ones, work from home, and access wellbeing services. However, we must keep in mind that everyone's needs are different, and certain people may find it necessary to go on a digital detox during this period. The most important thing you can do today is looking after yourself and everyone around you.