Mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. It’s when you experience well-being, and you feel good and function well in the world. So, how do you define mental health? The answer has an impact on daily living, relationships, and physical health.
If you have good mental health, you will feel happiness, love, joy, and compassion. Good mental health doesn’t mean that you don’t have problems. It means your life generally satisfies you.
How Do You Define Mental Health?
Mental health affects how people think, feel, and behave. It impacts your ability to enjoy life, deal with stress, work productively, and contribute to your community. People with good mental health feel like they are making a difference and have a sense of purpose. With good mental health, you can better cope with life’s ups and downs and achieve a sense of well-being and peace.
Signs of strong mental health include:
- Confidence when faced with new situations or people
- Feeling optimistic
- You don’t blame yourself
- Setting goals
- Feeling good about yourself
- You have good self-esteem
What are the Benefits of Optimal Mental Health?
You and your loved ones should strive to achieve good mental health because it can have numerous benefits. If you have optimal mental health, you are optimistic, goal-oriented, and confident. You can cope with everyday stressful situations and succeed in the workplace.
People with good mental health experience the following benefits
- A sense of contentment
- A zest for living and the ability to laugh and have fun
- The ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity
- A sense of meaning and purpose in their activities and their relationships
- The flexibility to learn new skills and adapt to change
- A balance between work and play, rest and activity
- The ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships
- Self-confidence
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved moods
- Clearer thinking
- A greater sense of calm or inner peace
- Reduced risk of depression
- Improvements in relationships
- Sharper memory
- Clearer thinking
- Higher self-esteem
- Better sleep
- Increased energy
- Stronger resilience
Warning Signs of Mental Health Concerns
No physical test reliably indicates whether a person has less than optimal mental health or has developed a mental health disorder. But there are numerous indications that you may need to pay more attention to your mental health. Depression, anxiety, and substance use issues are common warning signs.
Issues that may suggest mental health concerns include:
- Lack of concentration
- Mood swings
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Feeling disconnected
- Illogical thinking
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and colleagues
- Avoiding activities that you usually enjoy
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Eating too much or too little
- Feeling hopeless
- Having consistently low energy
- Using mood-altering substances, including alcohol and nicotine, more frequently
- Displaying negative emotions
- Confusion
- Inability to complete daily tasks, like working or cooking a meal
- Having persistent thoughts or memories that reappear regularly
- Thinking of causing physical harm to yourself or others
- Hearing voices
- Experiencing delusions
Who Experiences Mental Health Issues?
Most people experience mental health issues at one time or another. One out of every five adults in the U.S. lives with a mental illness. That’s nearly 52 million people.
Factors contributing to mental health concerns include:
- Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
- Life experiences, including trauma or abuse
- Family history of mental health concerns or mental illness
Mental health issues are widespread, but they are treatable. That’s why it is essential to recognize when you need to seek help.
When Should You Seek Help for Mental Health Issues?
Knowing when to get help for mental health issues is essential. If you or a loved one is experiencing problems that impact your ability to study, work, or relate to others, you should seek help from a mental health professional. People with suicidal thoughts or intent, or thoughts of harming others, need immediate attention.
Mental health disorders are treatable, but many people need the help of a medical professional. If you have tried to improve your mental and emotional health but still struggle to feel happy, cope with everyday life, find meaning or feel connected to others, you should seek help.
Reaching out for help is a sign of strength. It means you are ready to recover and move forward. Recognizing the need for professional help is the first step to achieving optimal mental health.
Why Choose ILC for Mental Health Treatment?
ILC offers a heart-centered approach that treats the whole person and moves you into healing, health, and recovery. ILC mental health treatment programs are an integrative and holistic treatment model that uses a multidisciplinary team approach. That means, at ILC, you receive healing for your mind and body from a variety of experts. ILC offers experiential, group, and individual treatment. Everything from yoga, equine therapy, and mediation to individual sessions with licensed therapists are available to help you or your loved one embark on a path to improving mental health.
ILC treats mental health concerns including:
- Mood Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Intimacy Disorders
- Attachment Disorders
- Trauma and PTSD
- Depression
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Addiction
ILC also treats people who experience more than one mental health concern simultaneously. They address the causes of mental health issues, such as family history and trauma. Addressing the root cause of the symptoms is an essential part of achieving healing and moving on with your life.
Choose ILC to Start your Healing Process
Understanding and achieving mental health is vital to living your best life. But, often, reaching this important goal requires professional help. Integrative Life Center offers care that can ensure you achieve healing and attain optimum mental health.
You can heal your wounds and achieve and sustain lasting freedom from the suffering of mental health issues. Contact ILC today to get started on your journey to healing and better mental health.
