What is Mental Wellness? CBT Kenya

We often hear about mental wellness but what is it exactly? Mental wellness is a positive state of mind; being mentally well means that your mind is able to function at your best interest. Your mental state is not affecting your wellbeing. When your mental wellbeing is at its best your able to think of yourself highly, your able to cope well with challenges in your day to day life, your able to be as productive as you can be, have a good relationship with friends, family, colleagues etc.

Mental wellness is not something that is achieved overnight but rather a lifelong process. It is about building healthy habits over time that work for us and build us. It is important to be gentle with ourselves throughout this journey; not every day will be perfect some days will be harder than others but every day we strive to be our best self and honor our emotions, mind, body and soul.

Working towards taking better care of your mental health means getting in touch with yourself; understanding our triggers, knowing your strengths and weakness and knowing how to improve yourself and many more. In Lisa Oliver’s wise words “Always remember just because no one can heal you or do your inner work for you doesn’t mean that you have to do it alone.”

Tips of maintaining mental wellness

1. Take care of your body:

Taking care of yourself physically can improve your mental health. This can be through ways like;

1. Eat nutritious meals-Good nutrition is a natural defense against stress. Begin your day with a nutritious breakfast, preferably of wholegrain cereals and fruits, and take balanced meals throughout the day.
2. Avoid drug and substance abuse-If you have emotional problems seeking support from family and friends, or get professional help. Alcohol, cigarettes and drugs provide only temporary relief from stress and unhappiness.
3. Drink plenty of water- Drinking enough water is an important step in managing your anxiety. Even if you’re not experiencing anxiety drinking sufficient water can create feelings of relaxation.
4. Exercise-Exercising not only keeps you physically strong, it also reduces or prevents stress. Go for a walk or unwind with yoga. It is better to do moderate exercise regularly than to have a heavy workout occasionally.
5. Get enough sleep. Researchers believe that lack of sleep contributes to a high rate of depression thus getting enough sleep is essential since it keeps one more alert and less prone to stress after a good night’s rest. Getting enough sleep can also improve your memory

2. Surround yourself with good people:

People with strong family or social connections are generally healthier than those who lack a support network. Make plans with supportive family members and friends or seek out activities where you can meet new people, such as a club, class or support group.

3. Do something for others.

This is the best remedy when you’re feeling down. Helping a friend or family member or doing community work helps you to take the focus away from yourself. In turn, you will feel more positive and less helpless.

4. Learn to manage stress.

Shift your mindset and make a list. Making a list of goals and checking them off when they are completed. This will help you tackle things one at a time. Seeing problems as opportunities or focusing on the positive can also help to reduce stress. Stress cannot be avoided, but you can learn to manage stress.

5. Laughter is the best medicine.

Laugh yourself silly and have fun whenever you can. Laughing can help to keep the doctor away because humor activates the brain’s reward and pleasure centers, generating emotions and relaxing the mind.

6. Get a mental workout.

Engaging in mind-boggling games involves a combination of memory, decision-making and strategizing, which keeps the brain active and prevents dementia. In addition, playing in a group will boost interaction.

7. Pick up a new skill or hobby

Learning to play a musical instrument, acquiring computer skills, starting a new hobby or learning to cook a new dish can help keep your brain active and healthy.

8. Interact with others.

Talk to another person for at least 10 minutes daily. Talking to people stimulates the brain. Studies show that talking to another person for just 10 minutes a day improves memory scores thus the more you interact with others, the faster your brain will work.

9. Take a break.

A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health. It can be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work or even a weekend exploring somewhere new. A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you thus giving yourself some ‘me time’ is key.

10. Accept who you are.

We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like someone else. Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends. Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.

Finding help

Getting professional help does not mean you are weak or broken. It’s choosing to get better and take care of yourself. CBT-Kenya (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Kenya) counseling center offers counseling and therapy sessions for persons from all walks of life. We focus on helping clients gain insight into themselves by going through a healing process. Our purpose is to help you to achieve your therapeutic and life goals, to improve the quality of your life and to help you to build strong relationships in your life. Get in touch or book an appointment on +254 739 935 333, +254 756 454 585 or info@cbtkenya.org.