How To Achieve Mental Wellness Beyond Just Therapy And Meds

Mood disorders such as depression affect most people at least once throughout their lifetime. This is because mental wellness is directly related to brain chemistry, and an individual's chemistry can change. When the body does not have enough of its chemical messengers - known as neurotransmitters - working correctly, they can begin to feel sad, depressed and can experience stress and pain. There are many ways to achieve mental wellness - including methods that move beyond using therapy and medication.

Get Outside

One of the best ways to stand down a bad mood - especially a serious mood disorder like depression - is to exercise. Exercise naturally lifts one's mood by releasing endorphins that are critical to experiencing happiness and feeling less pain. Endorphins are a type of neurotransmitter that the body uses to attack stress, pain, and sadness so the more an individual exercises, the more he or she will naturally begin to feel happy and relaxed. When starting an exercise regime to combat depression, try starting off slowly and work up to a more rigorous regime. For example, commit to walking or doing an aerobic activity at least for thirty minutes every day.

Get Your Beauty Rest

In a society that is fixated on productivity and moving the needle, it is not a surprise that most Americans do not get enough sleep at night. However, determining how much sleep each individual needs is crucial to achieving mental wellness; the idea is to develop a sleep ritual. Patients should wind down and go to bed at the same time every night, while also thinking about the things that make them feel peaceful and restful. Incorporate those ideas into your bedtime routine. Lighting a candle, taking a hot shower, making some tea and putting ones favorite lotion on the hands and feet are all excellent bedtime routines that will lead the body and mind into a resting state. In addition, patients should consider making the bedroom a technology-free zone by putting phones on sleep mode, turning off the television and preparing for a restful night of six to eight hours of sleep.