Archives for September 2021

Improving your mental health can feel challenging, if not impossible. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are six tips to help you improve your mental health. 

1. Exercise Regularly 

Even if you don’t feel active, exercise can significantly improve mental health. Not only does the activity force you to mentally change gear, but it releases endorphins that boost your mood and break the cycle of anxiety or depression.

2. Create a Safe Space 

Another essential part of improving mental health is having a safe space to retreat to. 

This is particularly vital for people with anxiety or who easily feel overwhelmed. 

Safe spaces take many shapes and may take the form of a group of friends or an actual space. 

If your safe space is physical, be sure to fill it with things you find comforting. Favorite colors, music, and weighted blankets can all help improve mental health and decrease stress. 

3. Know What Upsets You

A crucial part of improving your mental health is understanding what causes it to spiral. 

Triggers that cause mental health difficulties are individual and vary from person to person. They can include:

• Anniversaries of deaths
• Loud noises
• Excessive time alone/isolated
• Family tensions 

Once identified, not only can you strategize ways to avoid your triggers, but you can further improve your mental health by finding ways to avoid them. 

4. Talk With Someone You Trust 

If having a safe space to recuperate in and learning what causes your distress isn’t enough to improve your mental health, talk to someone. 

Talking in confidence to a friend or family member. Not only does this help you sort through what is causing your mental health challenges, but it raises awareness around you. 

That means that when you need it, you have a network to fall back on and don’t have to be alone as you might feel you are. 

5. Make Connections 

And if your mental health suffers because of isolation, getting to know new people can make a difference.

Reaching out, whether to strangers or acquaintances, is another way to improve your mental health. It reduces feelings of isolation and increases your sense of belonging, drastically improving your mental health. 

6. Sing

Last but not least, another way to improve your mental health is to sing. Incredible as it sounds, singing makes you happier. Singing releases endorphins, and they reduce stress and boost your mood. 

Not a confident singer? It doesn’t matter. Endorphins don’t care about tuning or ability. All you need to do is join in with your favorite song next time it’s on the radio.   

A substance use disorder, more commonly referred to as drug addiction, is a fairly prevalent disease that prevents an individual from being able to control their usage of drugs or medication. 

This disease, which heavily impacts a person’s brain and behavior, has affected over 23 million adults in the United States. So, it’s not uncommon for you to know someone struggling with it as well. 

Knowing the signs of a substance use disorder can save a life. Things like social isolation, weight gain, money problems, and hygiene issues may seem common, but they can be signs of a more serious problem. 

1. Sudden Weight Changes 

Someone who is abusing drugs or alcohol is likely to experience drastic fluctuation in their weight. This can mean losing or gaining weight. 

2. Increased Irritability 

The abuse of substances can often lead to increased irritability as well as sudden angry outbursts. The need for secrecy can also cause these individuals to become unreasonable. 

3. Odd Sleeping Patterns 

The use of drugs and alcohol can severely disrupt normal sleeping and waking patterns. Sleeping during the day or staying up all night can both be signs of a problem. 

4. Changes in Appetite

If someone is abusing drugs or alcohol, you may notice a significant change in their appetite. They may be eating much more than usual, or they could be eating a lot less. 

5. Money Issues 

Someone struggling with a substance use disorder could begin to have money problems, as they are spending their money to feed the addiction. 

6. Bloodshot or Glazed Eyes 

Bloodshot and glazed-over eyes are typically good indicators that someone is using a substance. They may also have enlarged pupils. 

7. Changes in Hygiene 

An individual who is addicted to a substance will often stop caring about their physical appearance and hygiene. They may wear dirty clothing, stop showering, stop brushing their teeth, and generally look disheveled. 

8. Changes in Social Behavior

You may notice a change in an individual’s social network. They may lose interest in their friends and suddenly begin hanging out with a different crowd.