In my last post, I discussed how exercise and nature can help reduce symptoms of stress and depression. That information is very much related to this post as participating in exercise and nature-related activities would be considered types of coping skills which is a large component of mental health maintenance. But, in general, what exactly is mental health maintenance? Well, that depends. For an individual who has a diagnosed mental illness, most people would probably say that mental health maintenance would consist of taking prescribed medications as needed, keeping regular appointments with mental health professionals, self-monitoring for any signs that one might need to seek help, and utilizing coping skills that were learned in counseling or therapy to keep stressors at bay. In a sense, mental health maintenance looking through the lens of a diagnosed mental illness, is not much different than maintenance for an individual who has any chronic illness such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, or Epilepsy.
That means that everyone else, those people who have no diagnosed mental health illness, are off the hook for mental health maintenance, right? Well, again, that depends on how one approaches other aspects of his or her life. How do you maintain your car? Do you regularly inspect and change fluids, balance and rotate tires, or inspect and replace filters, belts, and other miscellaneous car parts? Do you perform similar preventative maintenance with your house, your yard, your clothes, your hair, your body, or your teeth? Many people are not able to perform what many consider to be routine maintenance for themselves or for their possessions because they lack the means and opportunity. Many people, who have the means and opportunity, think nothing of performing, what they consider routine maintenance because they believe that they are protecting investments or their long-term health. However, if people leave their emotional and mental health unchecked, stress can escalate into more severe issues that could negatively impact daily functioning or ruin physical health.
What does mental health maintenance look like for someone who does not have a diagnosed mental illness? Well, in many ways there is a lot of overlap because optimal physical health and stress reduction are recommendations for both populations. Exercise, healthy eating habits, and sleep hygiene are tips that everyone should heed. But how someone combats stress can be pretty unique and particular for each individual person and is dependent on his or her coping skills or methods. One person might relax by receiving a therapeutic massage while another person might enjoy getting manicures and pedicures to unwind. Some people use books, art, music, and athletics as an outlet. Others enjoy socializing with friends and family while some enjoy assorted hobbies to blow off steam. For some, the act of maintaining various aspects of their life, be it home, yard, garden, etc., is in and of itself, a form of relaxation. Many people find peace through prayer or meditation. All of the aforementioned things can be categorized as coping methods that people use to deal with stress. A problem arises when a person has unhealthy coping methods, insufficient coping methods, or no coping methods at all. Sometimes demands or events in life are greater than an individual's ability to cope. During these times, people can often feel overloaded, under tremendous pressure, and very tense or emotional. Counseling or therapy can be useful for these situations to help people develop new, or rediscover once used but forgotten, coping skills.
So—mental health maintenance is for everyone.
Until my next post, practice those coping skills. Thanks for visiting!
