| If it's not broke don't fix it...right? No! One of the best | | | | want to make yourself miserable by being the |
| methods of mental health recovery is to maintain an | | | | food-police, just be conscious of what is going into |
| environment prone to mental health and mental illness | | | | your body. And allow yourself some leg-room to cheat |
| recovery. Staying mentally healthy is a way of life, not | | | | once a week or so! |
| something you do when things start to go wrong. | | | | 7) Set goals: when people are feeling depressed, |
| Keep reading for your top 10 tips to staying mentally | | | | aimless, or like they are just going through the motions, |
| healthy! Remember sometimes, the best treatment is | | | | often times its because they are lacking general |
| prevention. | | | | direction. Set realistic goals for yourself so you are |
| For access to some great cutting-edge research | | | | continuously aiming at something, this is a practice |
| aside from the tips below, check out the Mental Health | | | | known as positive dissonance (you are constantly |
| Center of Denver's Research and Evaluation Team's | | | | reaching for a new goal you set, thus you are always |
| publications. | | | | striving further and further even if you accomplish a |
| 1) Stay Physically Active: the human mind developed in | | | | goal along the way). Importantly though, one must not |
| an environment requiring one travels the equivalent of | | | | take this too far and find no joy in overcoming a given |
| 12 miles per day for sheer survival (and no that doesn't | | | | sub-goal; this will prove to demoralize the individual. You |
| mean jumping in the car and flooring it!). Recent | | | | should celebrate your successes! Each and every one |
| research has proven that increased physical activity | | | | of them, and then push yourself to be even better. |
| can actually create new brain cells (once thought of as | | | | Once you reach your goal, set another one to get |
| a static number), this explains why nearly every mental | | | | even further! This will constantly drive you, give you |
| healthcare consumer at facilities such as MHCD are | | | | reasons to celebrate as you attain goals, and will |
| strongly encouraged to begin an exercise regiment | | | | increase your general level of content and mental |
| immediately. | | | | health. |
| 2) Stay Socially Active: we are social creatures, thus | | | | 8) Balance free time: this is very important! Don't let |
| one's support network, be it family or friends, is of | | | | yourself just lay in front of the TV. That is actually |
| immense importance to one's general well being. It is of | | | | conducive to depressive environments. Relax, watch |
| course ok to take a few nights to yourself, but don't | | | | some TV, read a book, go for a walk, spend time on |
| stay shut in. Go out, keep your social relations strong. | | | | your hobby. Do it all, not just one of them. |
| 3) Get a Hobby: find something creative outlet that you | | | | 9) Examine your locus of control: in the midst of your |
| want to do just for yourself. Depending on what you | | | | self reflections, it is important to examine just where |
| chose, a hobby can be a great avenue into sports | | | | your locus of control is. Are you blaming everyone else |
| clubs, night classes at a local college, or staying | | | | for things? Or are you taking on all the fault? Nothing is |
| physically active; plus if its something you enjoy it will | | | | one sided, remember that. Especially if your depression |
| be much easier to stick with! | | | | is focused around relationship woes. Think of what |
| 4) Be Self-Reflective: you know those few nights a | | | | you really did, what others really did, accept that its in |
| week I said it was ok to just take a night to yourself? | | | | the past and that the best thing to do now is learn |
| Do it! Read a good book, walk your dog, just think | | | | from it and live on to never make that mistake again! |
| things over. Examine where you are in life, where you | | | | 10) Don't be afraid to seek help: It is a great shame |
| want to be, and where you've come from. Be honest | | | | that seeking out mental health professionals in America |
| and complimentary to yourself. You are a brave, | | | | has become a taboo or secretive endeavor! If you are |
| amazing person, so act like it :) | | | | worried about your mental health, you should be proud |
| 5) Play: play is actually tremendously important for | | | | of yourself for putting forth an effort to improve |
| staying mentally healthy. Devoting time to just having | | | | yourself. If you are in the general area, I would |
| fun can recharge your battery, revitalize your social | | | | recommend a recovery-based treatment center such |
| networks, and reduce stress/anxiety. | | | | as the Mental Health Center of Denver, or MHCD. The |
| 6) Maintain a healthy diet: this goes along with staying | | | | only shame in finding help is not getting help when you |
| active. Stay healthy, both in terms of exercise and in | | | | can benefit from it! |
| terms of eating. Now don't go crazy here, you don't | | | | |