Factors That Can Worsen a Mental Health Condition
2020 has been a year for the books. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been in a good way for many people. There has been an increase in both the number of people suffering from mental health conditions and the severity of them. While focusing on how to improve the condition is beneficial, it’s also important to give attention to factors that can make it worse so as to be prepared for it.
Poor Physical Health
It’s important to note the relationship between mental health and physical health. Feeling mentally healthy is far more difficult when you are suffering from poor physical health. Pain and discomfort take a toll on your mental state, which can worsen a mental health condition. Following the basic tenets of healthy living can help boost your health and put you in a better position to address your condition. According to Trifecta, you should do your best to get adequate exercise, eat a healthy diet, and get enough sleep. When you take care of your body’s basic needs, your body will then be in better shape to take proper care of your mind.
Traumatic Events
Traumatic events can leave severe mental scarring on a person’s psyche. They can result in PTSD, severe anxiety and depression, or other conditions. According to New Paths Family Counseling, abuse victims often experience severe mental health problems if left untreated. It can be painful and confusing to try to sort through such experiences on your own. It’s far better to seek professional help to aid in your recovery process. What is a traumatic event for you may not be for someone else, but don’t discount your experiences because of this. Anything that destabilizes your life and emotions, from a divorce to losing your job, could cause trauma for you. Finding a qualified therapist who you feel comfortable with can make a world of difference in how you are able to live with a mental health condition.
Loneliness
Humans need to connect to other humans. In a majority sense, online connections are inadequate to meet our needs. Unfortunately for many, online or otherwise virtual connections are all that have been available thanks to social distancing guidelines and lockdown orders. This has triggered intense feelings of loneliness in many people. Feeling lonely can take a real toll on your mental health, leading to feelings of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts in extreme cases, in addition to other negative health effects. According to TMS Clinics of Canada, you are also more likely to isolate yourself when you are already struggling, which is when you really need to be reaching out. Spending some contemplative time on your own and then finding ways to feel connected to others can help combat loneliness and address the decline it causes to mental health.
Being aware of factors that can worsen a mental health condition can be a useful tool to combat it. Poor physical health, traumatic events, and loneliness are just a few such factors. Become familiar with how you can address those factors so that you can prevent your mental health condition from worsening over time.
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