Be okay with your feelings.
I’m stating the obvious, but reminding you that our emotional state (mental health) is important and is connected to our physical health. We know intuitively that when we’re feeling stressed, we are more inclined to get sick – you can get a migraine headache, acne breakout, anxiety, depression, etc.
Life is stressful.
“I’m under a lot of pressure right now.”
“Well, what do I do?”
Acknowledge those feelings when you are dealing with high stress. Try not to suppress it long-term. Our culture tends to also focus on big to-do-lists (guilty) and that can add unnecessary pressure to our day. You can’t always avoid stress but you can change your perception of it – change your mindset.
My advice is to take time out of each day and do something that you enjoy, something you are completely absorbed in and it just makes you lose track of time. This is why I walk outside every single day at a minimum. It’s something that gives me a sense of joy.
You are your habits is something I’ve written about before and the effects of those habits on overall health.
Have you seen the TV show, “This is Us?” The show has a focus on talking about the mental health aspect. It takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride with individuals whose lives are intertwined. It confirms that life is stressful and can be hard to deal with sometimes.
This is all of us.
What do you do each day that gives you a sense of joy?
Guest blog post
Thank you to Be Independent Home Care for reaching out about this important topic.
The topic of mental health has received plenty of overdue attention in recent years, with many teenagers and younger adults breaking their silence on prolonged depression. However, it is a condition that also affects huge numbers of elderly citizens across the globe and, unlike younger generations, they are often less inclined to say it or lack the means to publicize their feelings.
Also, as shown by research from Mental Health America, senior citizens are less likely than any other age group to seek medical help for depression, with many of them brushing it off as an inherent facet of entering old age.
Sometimes, though, an elderly person could be quite expressive about feeling depressed and wishes for nothing more than a listening, supportive ear to whom they can talk. This is common in senior citizens who live alone and whose depression is fueled by isolation, with most (if not all) of their days spent alone. Anyone with elderly parents who are still alive truly ought to make every effort possible to spend time with them, even if it’s only an hour every week. That hour could mean so much to an older person who has no company for most of their week.
If you’re talking to elderly family or friends and they hint at feeling depressed, never dismiss it as a throwaway comment. No matter how trivial it may seem, treat it as a warning sign and encourage them to talk about it. If they flatly refuse, there is no need to push it further, although it’s always worth coaxing them to speak openly. For those times when you’re unable to be with the person, encourage them to get out of the house and meet like-minded others, if their physical health permits them to do so.
Be Independent Home Care shared the info-graphic below, which highlights some of the red flags of depression in older people and advises on what you (and they) could do to overcome this horrible condition.
