May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

Mental health has gotten a lot of press recently.   Many people are now talking about boundaries, self-care, and burn-out, but what does it really mean to be mentally healthy?   And how can we recognize it when things are beginning to slip?

Contrary to what many people might think, it’s normal for your mood to fluctuate throughout the day, or day to day.  We all experience things in our daily lives that are uncomfortable or unpleasant.  It is healthy to feel a wide range of emotions.  Our feelings provide information to us about what we might be needing, and it can be very useful to look at our feelings as information and feedback, rather than judging them as positive or negative.  Just as feeling hungry lets us know we need to eat, our emotional experiences also serve as a guide.  For example, anger may tell us that we have been wronged in some way or feel a sense of injustice.   This can cue actions toward repair or setting boundaries.  Fear may deter us from going into unsafe situations, and sadness can let us know we have been separated from something valuable.

Many times, however, the experience of our feelings can be overwhelming.  So how we do regulate our emotions so that they don’t inadvertently take over?  Focusing on the health of your physical body is a crucial place to start.   Let’s start with the basic five: eat, sleep, drink water, go outside (and move while you’re out there if you can), and avoid illicit drugs and alcohol.  Recent research shows an increasing role of the gut in processing our emotions, so proper and balanced nutrition is essential for rebalancing our emotions, as well.  Foods that are nutrient dense and contain fiber and protein are the building blocks.   Next, adequate sleep is vital for regulating our emotions and having enough energy and motivation to navigate the day.   Healthy adults need, on average, seven to eight hours of sleep each night.   And remember, there is no such thing as “catching up” on sleep.  Sleeping in on the weekend will not make up for small amounts of sleep during the week, so make sleep a priority every day.  Drinking water is like a shower for our insides.  Water is necessary to fuel and cleanse our bodies.  Next, whenever possible, take some time outdoors. Sunshine provides Vitamin D, which has a direct effect on our mood.  In addition, being grounded connected to mother Earth contributes to mental peace.  While you’re outside, if you can exercise or increase your bodies movement, this will also improve your mental and physical health.   Lastly, avoid illicit drugs and alcohol.  Now, this isn’t a judgment on drugs and alcohol.   It is, however, a statement that substances interfere with your body’s natural ability to regulate mood, and make it harder in the long run to find stability.

Recognizing the need to improve our daily habits around caring for ourselves is the first step.  Some signs that it is time shift some energy into ourselves might be feeling tired or having difficulty sleeping.  This can contribute to low energy throughout the day, increased feelings of sadness, low motivation, and desires to sleep more.  Creating a bed time routine, sometimes called sleep hygiene, can be tremendously helpful in getting back on track.  Feelings of being irritable or “over reacting” to others might also cue us to focus more internally.  Other signs of stress are difficulty concentrating, mental “fog” or physical symptoms such as stomach aches, headaches, rash, acne, or muscle tension.  Building awareness of our body and mind’s cues to care for ourselves is vital- and can start with doing a daily check in on how you’re feeling.

If you need help, support, or guidance in getting back on track, reach out to a mental health professional.   Shanti Orange County is one of many local providers and agencies dedicated to helping improve the lives of our community.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.