World Mental Health Day (Oct 10th): Our Mind Rules Our Body

Start Sharing your Feelings. Stop Worrying

Emphasize on Emotional Well-being not Only Today but from Today

Gyms, Zumba classes and fitness centers (that boast of providing all types of physical activities right from kick boxing to boot camps, all under one roof) are proximal to us and occupy a prominent role in our lives. That’s the way we prioritize physical health and I am 100% happy about it. Our mental health is as important as physical health and we need to take immense care of it as well. But we don’t find much activities and centers that cater to our mental health needs. Its understood that mental well-being and a stress-free life must come from within every person. But what has the world to offer in contributing to our inner peace? Crimes, violence, sexual assaults, cyber bullying and human rights violation? If this is the response to human wellness and existence, we are for sure not catering to our mental and emotional well-being as good as our physical health.
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What is Mental Health?
Mental health is not just the absence of mental health problems but the ability to maximize your potential to cope with life and play an active role in your family, office and community. It’s the ability to learn things, make new friends, express your feelings openly and cope with changes in a positive way. Humans are humans and each of us have our high and low tides in life that take a toll on our emotions and well-being. No human remains untouched by stress but the way in which each of us handle it defines our emotional well-being in life. Some people bounce back much more stronger in a short period while some others take a longer time to process the facts.

When your child does not perform well in school, a ‘C’ bucket from your boss or financial problems can also stress you and keep you worried daily. Serious health problems, life-threatening diseases and irreversible problems such as death can devastate the quality of life and put you under tremendous mental health crisis.

World Mental Health Day
The World Federation for Mental Health defined a day exclusively for upholding mental health and insisting on emotional wellness in the year 1992. Since then, we celebrate World Mental Health Day on October 10th each year. The theme for 2018 is ‘Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World’. This is not like Children’s day or World Rabies Day which are simply one day events. The preparation and hard work that goes into making this day a success can be days or months together of hard work and efforts by people living worldwide.
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Life is a complex web that has layers and layers of emotions, wellness and health attached to it. Even if one part of the web comes off, it remains incomplete and stands the risk of falling apart anytime. It remains in our hands to take care of this complex web by adhering to our mental and physical health requirements. Tips here can help you achieve emotional well-being:

1. Remain who you are and accept yourself. Each of us are unique human beings on this earth who are blessed with different talents. Maximize your potential and reap benefits.
2. Engage in something you are good at. Explore your versatility and expand your horizon involving yourself in activities that you excel in.
3. Care for others
4. Share your feelings. Discussing your thoughts and feelings with someone can lift burden off your shoulders and keep your mind free
5. Exercise regularly. Physical activity reduces stress, keeps your brain and body healthy and improves mental health. Ward off fatigue and stress by acclimatizing yourself to daily physical activity as given at www.firsteatright.com.
6. Eat healthy food. Foods that are food for your physical health are good for your mental health as well
7. Stay connected. It might be via phone, chat or in person but ensure that you stay in touch with your friends, relatives and those people you know without fail
8. Take a break. Go for a vacation to clear your mind, enjoy a half an hour walk down the park or sit down for some time without doing anything to energize yourself mentally
   
   

Dietitians, nutritionists and physicians are constantly available to cater to the physical health needs of people, but we have only psychologists and psychiatrists whose presence terrorizes people. There is a stigma attached to raising your voice on mental health problems. People often feel uncomfortable expressing their state of mind. But its always better to take a step towards better mental health by speaking openly and sharing your burden.

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