Your Mental Health Matters

For those of you that regularly follow us and read our newsletters and articles on our website, you’ll know that we talk a lot about the various elements of well-being, of actually how to be a ‘well-being’.  This month is Mental Health Awareness Month internationally and May 11th to 17th is Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK. I really like the fact that it’s not just a day, but a full week because I believe that it gives us time to really think about what it means and how important it is.

The Mental Health Foundation have chosen the word ‘action’ for this year and that word really resonates with me, because I truly believe that although awareness is powerful it is only through action that we can make the changes that can change our lives.

On the one hand, it’s easy for us to think that mental health and the terminology around it doesn’t affect us or apply to us and that’s often because we often hear about the extreme end of it. On the other hand, it’s easy to be blasé about it because over the last couple of years, we’ve heard so much more about it as it’s become a bit of a celebrity buzzword.

Personally, as someone who works in the mental health arena, I will never stop reminding people of the need to safeguard their mental health. It means that as the founder of Wow Beauty & Wellbeing I will always share the message and encourage positive wellbeing practices that include stress management, because prolonged stress can affect our brain making it more difficult for us to manage anxiety, fear, and stress which then lead to conditions like depression.

Some of the ways that stress affects our bodies include…

Heartburn, increased heart rate, increase blood pressure, body tension, poor immunity.

Some effects of stress on our minds include…

Mood changes that can lead to anxiety, depression, irritability, concentration and focusing issues, as well as behaviours like over or under eating, social isolation ref mentalhealth-uk.org

Take Action

Start by identifying your stressors, then you can explore ways to manage them where possible or at least find ways to reduce the impact. Remember that we are all unique and just because something stresses one person doesn’t mean it’s going to affect you in the same way.

Let’s not forget that some stress is actually helpful to us because it enables us to get things done. It’s the long-term consistent chronic stress that becomes a problem and can lead to mental health concerns.

So examine all elements of your life, your family life, your social relationships your work life as well as the elements of daily life that we have no control over such as Global events.

Grab a sheet of paper and make a list of the different elements and the different ways that they cause stress.

For example…

• At work do you have an endless stream of deadlines?
• Do you find yourself with multiple to-do list that you can’t seem to get Control over?
• Do you have Fractious relationships with certain people that make you uncomfortable?
• Are you the one carrying the emotional load in the family relationship or in a friendship group?

The possibilities are endless…

Next look out for the signs

Your body and mind will give you clues when stress is starting to build. This might look like:

Irritability, feeling overwhelmed, fear, tired all the time, not wanting to socialise, biting your nails, grinding your teeth, or picking at your cuticles, indigestion, headaches, poor sleep, binging on anything as a coping mechanism.

Take small steps

Talk about it: talking about some of the things that stress you takes them out of your head and can help to view it differently or discover positive ways of dealing with it.

If it’s a work situation, try speaking to your manager or supervisor for help or support.

Write about it: sometimes when we write about things that stress us were able to view it through a different lens, see patterns and find ways to make changes.

Move your body: walking, dancing, running, sports, something to boost those endorphins. Movement can also help to release built up tension and support your mood.

Improve your sleep hygiene: create a simple wind down routine to help improve your sleep. Dim the lights, reduce screen time and give your mind a chance to slow before bed.

Add some moments of calm with relaxation practices: meditation, breathwork, music, yoga, reflexology, Acupuncture, massage… Small moments of calm throughout the day can make such a difference.

Take a step back from news and social media: Staying informed and connected matters, but constant exposure can feel overwhelming. Try gently limiting how often you check the news or scroll on social media. It’s also worth remembering that algorithms respond to what we engage with… so the more we click, watch, or react, the more of that content we’re shown. Being a little more intentional with what you consume can make a real difference to how you feel.

Remember: all of these can be helpful, but there are times when we might need a little bit more so you can always see your GP,  or find a therapist who can offer a deeper level of support.