Unlike your physical health, ignoring your psychological well-being can be much easier, and if neglected for too long, it can lead to needing medical intervention.
Needing medication certainly isn’t a weakness—lots of people need to take medication for their well-being for various reasons. But if you want to avoid it or find alternatives to supplement your prescribed treatment, you can specially if you have symptoms of anxiety. Follow the tips below.
Table of Contents
1. Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals (ESAs) are different from puppy therapy sessions. While having a pet might boost your mood and well-being overall, a pet is only considered an ESA if you have a mental health condition that requires the comforting presence of an animal.
For example, suppose you suffer from panic attacks and need help calming down. You might benefit from the presence of an ESA in new social situations that you’d otherwise struggle to manage. Your licensed mental health practitioner (LMHP) will suggest an ESA if they think you need emotional support.
Once you have your ESA, your LMHP can issue you an ESA letter, which can help with travel and housing.
2. Exercise
1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in any given year. Likewise, 1 in 5 children, either currently or in the future, will experience a debilitating psychological condition. Mental health illnesses are common and should be treated with the same severity as physical illnesses.
Much like staying physically fit, exercise can also boost your well-being. So if you don’t exercise regularly, consider some of the options below and get stuck in:
- Swimming
- Walking (at a pace if possible)
- Running
- Dancing
- Team Sports, e.g., Basketball
3. Mindfulness Apps
Mindfulness apps are another excellent solution to maintaining good mental health. It’s important to say that wellness apps aren’t about guaranteeing good psychological well-being 24/7. Instead, they help you practice techniques, often daily, that help promote good mental health.
Headspace is a popular well-being app focusing on improving sleep and decreasing stress levels. Trying one to see if it suits you is a great way to start. If it’s not for you, that’s okay; you can pick another until you find one that works.
4. Do What You Enjoy
Part of promoting good well-being is acting on self-care. You’ll likely see or hear the term ‘self-care’ used in the news or on the internet, as it’s a very current topic of conversation.
People often confuse self-care with a negative version of selfishness. However, self-care is all about looking after yourself —making sure that you’re healthy—so that you can go on to help others and navigate the highs and lows of each day.
For some people, that’s prioritizing a 20-minute yoga video before breakfast. For others, it’s spending some extra money on going to the cinema each month.
Final Thoughts
Everyone experiences psychological well-being differently, and as a result, not every tip is going to apply to you. However, thinking of how to keep yourself mentally healthy now will prevent the need for a doctor’s trip later.