Although the stigma attached to mental health problems is slowly being removed, there is still an important feature of mental health that a lot of people fail to understand. It needs to be looked after just the same as physical health does. In the same way as a poor diet increases the chances of getting ill, so failing to look after yourself doesn't do your mental health any good.
I suffered from depression when I was doing my GCSEs. It was when I came off the antidepressants that I realised that your mental health is ultimately something that you control. If you think you might be suffering from depression or stress or any other mental illness you should see your doctor. However, as a supplement to professional treatment, or simply as a way of coping with the strains of student life, lifestyle cures are very important.
I know it might be a bit boring, but a good diet and plenty of exercise can work wonders. There are plenty of articles on the internet and books about good foods to eat for mental health, but eating a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, complex carbohydrates and high protein foods and watching fat, salt and sugar intake are sensible guidelines for anyone. Erratic sugar levels are not good for your mood, which means that it's better to avoid sugary foods and skipping meals, and to eat unrefined carbohydrates like brown rice, and wholemeal pasta and bread. We all know what a high a lot of sugar can give you, and the low if meals are neglected.
It could be a good idea to watch your consumption of alcohol and caffeine if you want to be mentally healthy. I guess a doctor would recommend cutting out drugs like these completely if stress or depression or another mental health problem is an issue. If you're simply trying to stay mentally healthy or prevent a problem recurring watching how much you consume could be a good idea.
Exercise is wonderful if you're feeling down. Aerobic exercise, such as walking, running, going to the gym or swimming makes your body produce endorphins, the body's natural antidepressants and painkillers, and fills your brain with oxygen, which means that it can give you a high that is actually good for you. It also helps remove stress hormones from your blood. As another article on the website points out though, it is important not to overdo it. Don't be afraid to start gently. It doesn't make you a wimp, the wimps are the people who sign up to clubs and gyms and don't turn up!
Exercise is a wonderful release- going to the gym is half an hour solid of antidepressants- and these are not like prescribed drugs which cut off the highs as well as the lows. Depression is not simply feeling down, it often means your moods have more highs than normal, going from one extreme to another. When recovering from depression I discovered the trick of triggering the highs. If you are feeling low, exercise or doing something you enjoy can bring you back up again.
Exercise also helps stress. If it is timetabled in the same way as lectures and other commitments, then it is something that can't get pushed to one side. Don't let yourself say 'I have too much to do to play tennis'. That is giving in to the stress. Making time to exercise, and dedicating all your thoughts to the activity that you are doing, will help you to stay mentally healthy and to succeed in the rest of your life.
Although it might be the last thing you feel like doing if you're buried under a pile of work or feeling down, I find that social contact works wonders. Humans are social creatures. You could go out, or go to a society meeting, or simply sit in the kitchen with your housemates. You could knock on a friend's door or give them a call and just chat. Talk about how you're feeling if you want, it always helps, or if you don't feel up to it just chat and be with other people.
It is also important to be careful about how you think. I know that it can often seem like it isn't something that we have a great deal of control over, but if you're under a lot of pressure, make sure that when you have time off from your work, or whatever else is bothering you, you try hard not to think about it. Set it on one side- it doesn't belong in that section of time.
Try not to think too negatively about yourself- we all do it. Just remember that you are a human being, that you have many wonderful gifts, and that you are doing your best. Remind yourself that you're a wonderful person. Even if you don't quite believe it at first, it's true, and it won't be long before you recognise the fact. As well as healthy ways to act and live, there are healthy ways to think. Remember, if you need any help, you should contact a professional. There is a list of contacts on the Duck's Life website.
Timetable in some time for yourself, in the same way you timetable in lectures and appointments. Even, or rather, especially if you seem to have too much to do it's important to make time for yourself. I have been told that it is important for mental health to have times of 'play', that is, time spent doing something enjoyable. Societies are good for this. There's a society for everyone at York. Doug Soc is particularly good for random fun, but there are plenty out there. You don't have to turn up every week, and you don't have to take on commitments that you don't want to.
Being creative can also be a wonderful way of coping. It is a part of being a human being — just watch small children! You don't have to be good at it, as long as you enjoy it. It doesn't matter what other people think, though if you have the confidence to show it to someone else, you will find the experience very rewarding. There are many ways to be creative- draw, paint, sing, play an instrument. Make presents instead of buying them, customise clothes or make accessories, whatever you enjoy. They can all be very therapeutic.
I don't mean to sound bossy, much of this is based on my own experiences, but I hope it helps you to view your mental health in a different way. Even if you've always been happy, it pays to look after yourself. Different things work for different people, but I hope there's something in here for you.
