Resources and Tips for Better Mental Health

We all need to take good care of our mental health, but it's not always easy. At some point most of us will struggle to stay in control, whether it's coping with grief or managing anxiety symptoms. To help you support your health and wellness, here are a few tips and tools to try.

Identify your triggers

The first thing that we want to mention is that mental health is important. Many of us will experience dips in our mental health at times. When you're feeling depressed or anxious, it can be useful to identify your key triggers. Not everyone will know exactly why they are feeling bad. Other people are able to clearly identify reasons and behavior patterns.

Identifying your triggers can help you to start problem solving. Perhaps it's your job that's making you feel stressed? Instead it might be problems with your relationships? Your anxiety might be based around overthinking, or excessive worrying about the future? Whatever your triggers are, identifying these is the first step to getting on a positive path.

Learn coping strategies

Once you've identified what's making you feel bad you can start finding solutions to your problems. Not all problems are easily solved and so it's helpful to learn stress coping strategies. There are many different coping methods which can help to reduce stress. Some of the most effective strategies include:

• Meditation sessions & yoga.
• Guided imagery practices or aromatherapy.
• Writing in a journal, this is a helpful way to practice reflection.
• Spending time outdoors, ( organic activities like hiking, foraging or wild swimming can be particularly therapeutic).

Take Good Care of Yourself

Taking good care of yourself is the key to taking control of your mental health. So many things have an effect on how you feel mentally, from sleep to the foods you eat. Make sure that you get enough exercise and eat lots of nutritious meals. Put effective self-care strategies in place, whether it's massages, reading, or spending time with your loved ones. A healthy diet also plays an important role. So, try out some new recipes such as crock pot green beans.

Express your emotions

Looking after your mental health is about expressing your emotions. If you're struggling it can be helpful to talk to the people close to you. Sharing your problems can help you to ease the pressure, you may benefit from a different perspective. If you don't feel comfortable sharing your problems you might prefer to write down your thoughts in a journal.

Use plants to boost your mood

When you're feeling blue there are lots of clever plants which can help to give you a boost! You can try plant supplements like chamomile, ashdawagna, or CBD oil. Scientific studies have shown that these supplements are helpful to ease symptoms of anxiety and depression. Remember if you already take medication to improve your mental health these supplements may not be suitable.

Tools to support wellness & mental health

Therapy services

Therapy is one of the best support strategies for individuals who are struggling with their mental health. There are several different types of talking therapies, covering a range of techniques and approaches. Therapy is used to help individuals adjust their thoughts and behaviors to get on a more positive path. The idea is to challenge self-sabotaging or negative behavioral patterns. Therapy can also be used to cope with traumatic events, addictions, and various mental health conditions. To learn more about a wide range of therapy and support services take a look at the For All Seasons website.

Youper 

Youper is an AI based app, offering a program for anxiety and depression. The first step is to access a free assessment, helping you to identify your mental health symptoms. The great thing about Youper is that you can access tools and support from the comfort of your own home. The app helps you to track your mood, symptoms, and keep an eye on your progress.

Once you've input your key information the app provides a personalized program to suit you. Here you'll find all the tips you need to start improving your wellness.

Ten Percent Happier Meditation

Ten Percent Happier Meditation is a fantastic app to support your wellness. Using this tool you can access both audio and video mediations, focusing on a range of different themes. The library includes hundreds of guided meditations, so it's easy to find something that suits you. Check out the meditations on sleep, anxiety, or even parenting. The app also includes mindfulness stories, helping you appreciate the moment and focus on the positives.

Meditation has so many different mental health benefits, these sessions will help you to relax, de-stress, concentrate and focus. When you're armed with the right tools it's so much easier to take control of your mental health.

 Anxiety Social Net

Anxiety Social Net is a social network for people who experience anxiety. Using this platform you can support yourself, support others, and access anxiety based help content. Anxiety Social Net is a support community, where users find strength and coping skills together. When you join the network you can make a profile, keep an anxiety diary, and interact with others. Joining a supportive community is a great way to feel less alone on your journey.

The mental illness happy hour

This podcast is not a support resource specifically, however it has some incredibly insightful and eye-opening discussions on mental health. The Mental Illness Happy Hour was created by Paul Gilmartin, each week he interviews a range of comedians, sports players, celebrities and doctors. Expect plenty of engaging and inspirational interviews, tackling subjects from depression to addiction, abuse, eating disorders, anxiety and more. These episodes are about moving away from stigma and learning to talk openly about mental health.

Taking control of your mental health isn't always easy, but thankfully there is lots of support available. Remember, this information is only to be used as general guidance. If you have a particular mental health diagnosis you should always follow the advice of your doctor.