You need to know how to train your mind to be strong. It will benefit your mental and physical well-being. If you have frail mental health, you will not be able to see positivity in life. As human beings, you have to face challenges and also encounter happy events. Sound mental health ensures that you use your potential to go through trials and tribulations. Additionally, you have the emotional well-being to enjoy the rewarding moments of your life too. You are bound to feel helpless and anxious at times, but please remember that you can alter your mental state. You have to take the first step needed to boost your mental health.
The human brain is a Powerful Thing
Even a computer develops technical problems or stops working when it is overworked or the memory gets full. Ever wondered how the human brain keeps people going relentlessly throughout their lives? Scientists and doctors have been studying the brain for years and still, they have been only able to understand only a part of its complexities. Neurons in the brain die with age and time, but the existing neurons magically adjust to keep humans functioning.
On this World Mental Health Day 2022, take a moment to pay tribute to this unbelievable organ. It is mind-boggling to see how the brain works. To understand the brain better, Singaporean scientists and also researchers worldwide have decided to create an ultra-high resolution 3D comprehensive map of the human brain. Scientists now claim that the human brain is much more powerful than it was thought to be.
Here are some trivia to make you marvel at how powerful, complex, and unique your brain is:
- Brain development continues till about the age of 25 years.
- Brain information can move at the speed of 1mph to 268 mph!
- The spinal cord facilitates communication between the brain and other body parts.
- The average weight of a human brain is 3 pounds.
- The size of a piece of brain tissue is equal to a grain of sand. But it holds 100,000 neurons and 1 billion synapses, all in communication with each other.
- The brain is the fattiest organ with 60% of it being fat.
- The brain’s storage capacity is considered unmeasurable. A study has shown its capability to store trillions of bytes of information.
- The spinal cord keeps growing only till about 4 years of age.
- Contrary to popular belief, we use our whole brain and not only 10%.
- The scientific name of ice cream headache or brain freeze is sphenopalatine ganglion neuralgia.
What is mental health?
Mental Health is an umbrella term and it includes not only psychological but social and emotional well-being too. It influences our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Our mental health is also largely responsible for our stress-handling ability, our life choices, and our relationships with others. Good mental health is vital at all stages of life - childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
The mental health situation in Singapore is quite serious with one out of every seven to eight people suffering from a mental disorder. The top three disorders plaguing the country are alcoholism, major depressive disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. A troubled mental health or mental disorder affects many things like our earning ability, interactions, daily activities, and life in general. One’s mental health affects the lives of their loved ones too. They learn and experience the challenges faced in dealing with mental health issues.
Singapore is certainly taking steps to tackle the situation and reduce the stigma around mental health. There are programs to raise awareness and inform people about mental health conditions. One such exemplary example is the Art Science Museum mental health exhibition which will continue till 26th February 2023. There are 24 interactive exhibits, large-scale installations, and artworks made by artists, neuroscientists, and designers from various countries including Singapore. The name of the exhibition is ‘Mental: Colours of Wellbeing’.
Apart from the mental health exhibition, other complementary programs will also be running like films and talk shows.
4 Signs of Mental Health
The symptoms of mental health disorders depend on the disorder or illness one is suffering from. There are various kinds of mental disorders but the most commonly found ones are addiction, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.
Unfortunately, mental disorders have become very common. Fortunately, most cases are treatable with the help of psychotherapy and medicines. If you have been noticing changes in your own or a close one’s behavior or mood, it is a hint of faltering mental health. Though there are different symptoms for each mental illness, there are a few common signs of bad mental health. See the top four obvious signs of deteriorating mental health:
1. Excessive anxiety
It is normal to feel stressed or worried now and then. But if someone remains overwhelmingly anxious for a long amount of time, it is a symptom of anxiety. In such cases, it should be checked if the affected person displays other symptoms of anxiety disorders too, like palpitations, breathing difficulty, feeling dizzy, sweating, diarrhea, etc.
2. Long-running irritability or sadness
Irritation is an emotion that everyone feels when they are stressed. But when one remains irritated for more than a few weeks, it signals mental health disorders. Same with sadness and the person will be close to tears many times. Longlasting Irritability and sadness are the most common signs of depression, but can also be a result of other disorders like anxiety and phobia disorders.
3. Major changes in moods
Major and abrupt mood fluctuations are signs of mood disorders. If someone is showing sudden mood swings all the time, they might be suffering from bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. When mood swings become so frequent and intense that they disrupt daily life, one should seek help.
4. Stranger toward society
Social withdrawal can be noticed when someone behaves strangely in society and prefers to stay in isolation. They will suddenly stop enjoying the activities which they liked earlier. Withdrawal from regular life indicates a mental disorder. Social withdrawal is one of the primary symptoms of a few mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, autism, schizophrenia, and substance abuse.
10 Tips to Help Boost Your Mental Health
You should not ignore your mental health as it is no less serious issue than your physical health. Mental health has a huge impact on physical health. Follow the given tips to boost your mental health:
1. Get enough sleep
If you do not get an adequate amount of sleep, you have a chance of being affected by anxiety, depression, or stress. Maintain a routine and go to bed at a fixed time every day, and go to bed early. You could use scents from reed diffusers to help you achieve better sleep.
2. Stay healthy/Healthy Diet
Covid 19 has affected the mental health of a large number of Singaporeans, and the threat of the virus is still looming. Wistech health news has shared the information that the number of Covid cases is rising again and there is another Covid wave in Singapore. But you have survived all the waves so far, so do not worry too much. Take safety measures like getting vaccinated and wearing good quality KN95 mask Singapore has.
Also, maintain a diet having food items beneficial for the brain. For example, almonds, avocados, beans, blueberries, cashew, flaxseeds, leafy greens, peanuts, wild salmon, walnuts, etc.
3. Exercise regularly
Exercising is good for the whole body, including the brain. You must exercise regularly because staying active has positive effects on mental health. Working out boosts memory, and emotional and mental health, and helps relieve stress and anxiety. Do any form of physical activity that you enjoy, like long walks, running, Yoga, gymming, or playing a sport.
4. Mental workouts
By mental workouts, we mean doing small mental health exercises consistently too. Activities that have been successful in improving mental health conditions are listening and dancing to uplifting music, journaling, laughing, meditating, and stretching (yes it is a form of mental exercise too). Select one or two mental exercises and include them in your daily routine.
5. Extend your hand to help others
When you help others, it will remind you that your life has a deep purpose. When you have found the meaning of your life, it will give a huge boost to your mental health. Thus, try to do one act of helpfulness or kindness every day. Volunteer towards a good cause, spend time with your loved ones, and show your care and gratitude towards them.
6. Manage your stress
You must know how to control or deal with your stress. Learn about coping skills and practice those strategies. Do something that is appealing to your senses and you enjoy doing it. It can be anything fun for you like playing with your pet, painting, playing with a stress ball, watching comedy shows and laughing, etc.,
7. Find new hobbies
When you indulge in a new hobby, you also learn something new. Choose something which you have always wondered about but never got to try, like baking, writing a story, painting, hiking, etc. The new activities will keep you excited and stimulate your brain.
8. Alcohol and drugs are not the answer
You might be at your worst and think trying out drugs can make you feel better. That is the biggest myth and a trap. Avoid drugs at all costs. Consume alcohol in limited and safe quantities. Do not drink or take drugs to feel better
9. Laughter
Laughing improves mood, so do not forget to laugh multiple times a day. It is a great way to cut anxiety. Meet up with a goofy friend, watch funny videos, or join a laughter club to keep the laughter going!
10. Socializing is very important
Always keep socializing or building in-person social connections as one of your priorities. It will help you build up a support network. When you stop working on your social connections, you invite negative thoughts and loneliness. So make plans and connect with your friends and family members. Try meeting new people by joining a club or a class.
Types of Professionals in Singapore for Mental Wellness
Singapore has every kind of professional who provides mental healthcare. There are counselors, general practitioners, nurses in clinics, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers. When you want to seek help for yourself or someone else, you can approach a GP, polyclinic, hospital, family service center, national care hotline, private practitioner, or mental health association. Find out detailed information on mental wellness resources here. But first, if you live in Singapore, keep wearing a KF94 mask Singapore-made when you step out. It will protect you from covid-19 and all the stress related to it.
Mental health is as important as physical health
We must give equal importance to our mental and physical help. Poor mental health means a poor brain, the most important organ of our body. A poorly functioning brain affects physical health and causes health issues. It is important to seek help when needed, not worrying about the stigma and fighting against the stigma. To enjoy a fulfilling life, we must have sound emotional and physical health. So you must never neglect your mental health and keep yourself safe from things that might affect it. For instance, buy a surgical mask Singapore from Wistech Singapore health products. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe from the pandemic, don’t let it affect your physical and mental health.
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