Author: contributor

Everyone experiences tough times at different points in their lives. Having people around us during such difficult moments could make the situation easier to bear. You may have been worried about the mental health of your friend who has not been themselves for some time.

It might even be more challenging especially when you don’t know how to be a support system for them. In this article, you will learn some tips on being a support system for your friend who is experiencing mental health issues.

Educate yourself on mental health

One of the ways on how to be a support system is to learn more about mental health. It may be difficult for you to help your friend if you have little or no knowledge of what mental health means. You can learn about common mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.

It is also crucial to know the signs of various mental health problems so that you can tell which one your friend is suffering from. When you know what mental health problems entail, it becomes easier to be empathetic with them.

Be patient with them

If you know someone dealing with mental health problems, it is important to be patient with them. One of the mistakes that people make is that they set unrealistic expectations when their loved one is going through a hard time.

However, you need to realize that not everyone would get better at a fast rate. Some people need a longer time to recuperate, and it is important not to put them under undue pressure.

Listen to them

When your friend needs a listening ear, ensure that you are there to hear them out. Some people with mental health problems may need someone to confide in, and it is important to give them the benefit of trust that you will be there for them.

Encourage them to seek professional help

When you have been able to establish a good rapport with your loved one who has mental health issues, advise them to go for professional therapy. This will be instrumental in restoring their mental health to normalcy.

Mental health is an individual’s state of well-being where they can acknowledge and live up to their full potential. Someone with good mental health can affect positive change in their community and they can cope with the demands of life.  

For us to achieve our set goals, we need a healthy state of mind. Our bodies and minds need to align properly. It would be herculean for an unhealthy mind to achieve effective results.

The reason why mental health treatment exists is that there are people with mental health problems. And with counselors, mental health problems can become a thing of the past.

Here are some benefits of counseling in mental health treatment

Understanding your mental health condition

A counselor helps you to have a good idea of your mental health condition. This would help you open up to the fact that you need help.

The counselor conducts an in-depth evaluation by asking you various important questions that help you understand how your mental health problem developed.

To face your problems

Counseling allows you to stand up to the obstacles you are facing in your life. Since you understand your mental health issues, you can develop a more resolute mind to help you combat those problems more effectively.

To pick up healthy behaviors

Mental health problems are usually associated with unhealthy behaviors that you need to drop off. With a counselor, you can unlearn, relearn and learn behaviors.

Your present habits could be unhealthy and they can intensify your mental health problems. But the counselor helps you develop healthy habits that would replace the unhealthy ones.

Ease your stress

The counselor understands that you must have encountered a great deal of stress while combatting mental health problems. Hence, they help you develop coping strategies to keep stress at bay.

This would help you communicate your feelings without bottling them. You would also feel less pressured to speak out without the fear of being judged.

Mental health problems are disorders that affect an individual’s mental health. They affect the thinking, mood, and behavior of an individual.

It is expedient to note that mental health problems can affect the entire aspect of someone’s life.

The surprising fact is, many people have mental health problems but they are unaware. One of the ways to detect if you have mental health problems is to look at the common signs that would help you self-diagnose.

• Social Withdrawal

Someone who is suffering from mental health problems will experience social withdrawal. This means that they would not like to stay around other people for long.

Within them, they begin to nurse the fear that other people would not understand what they are going through. Therefore, to avoid having to explain what the problem is, they prefer to keep to themselves.

• Loss of Interest

One of the common signs of mental health problems is losing interest in many things. People with mental health problems will discover that they no longer have the vibe to do things they find interesting.

They will struggle for a while to do these things but it would not happen as smoothly as expected.

• Poor sleeping habits

Another sign of a mental health problem is the inability to maintain a healthy sleep routine. The sleeping patterns can be on the extreme. The individual could either be sleeping excessively or too little. This would affect their overall productivity.

• Weight changes

The evidence of mental health problems can be in weight changes. In this case, the individual might gain so much weight or experience a drastic reduction. Usually, weight changes can be a sign of depression and anxiety.

• Appetite change

Someone facing mental health issues will most likely not be able to eat as usual. They will spend their time thinking excessively without remembering to eat.

Anyone struggling with mental health problems needs to seek help from a mental health professional.

Mental health problems are common, and we are used to some of them like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and the likes. When mental health problems are in motion, they adversely affect your behaviors, feelings and thoughts.  

It could be painful knowing you have a mental health condition, but there is hope for you. There are some mental health treatments that are targeted at restoring your health back on track.

Types of mental health treatments available:

• Counseling or Psychotherapy: This is referred to as talk therapy and it is one of the most common mental health treatments. This treatment involves talking about all your problems with a counselor who doubles as a mental health professional.

There are several types of psychotherapy, one of the common ones are cognitive behavioral therapy. Usually, talk therapy is done one-on-one. Also, it can be done in a group setting.

For people who are going through difficult life situations like grief and the likes, psychotherapy is quintessential.

• Medications: Another popular method for the treatment of mental health problems is medications. There are some medicines that modify the chemicals in the brain particularly those that are involved in thoughts and emotions patterns.

Medicines cannot cure mental health problems but they improve symptoms by treating them. And they make other treatment methods effective.

• Support group: Hanging out with a support group can provide you with insight on how to handle your condition. With a support group, you have sober friends, resources, support and tips on how to take care of your condition.

• Residential treatment program: At times, when your mental health problem becomes so bad, you would need to remain within the confines of the hospital. During this period, you will receive adequate care for your health because there are experts on ground to facilitate that.  

There is a stigma associated with people who have mental health problems, and this is why some of them shy away from seeking help. It is important to help those around you find help so that they can get their lives back on track.

The idea behind maintaining a good health is an integration of several factors. The fact is, your input determines your output, health-wise. If you do not pay attention to some of these important factors, you might have health problems.

Below are some important health tips you need to note:

• Remain hydrated: It is essential for you to drink lots of water every time to remain hydrated. We lose water in our body in the form of sweat and urine, so it is vital to replace them. Water performs lots of functions in our body like digestion, prevention of constipation and a host of others.

If you want to increase your activity pattern, you need to take much water each day.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables: Not everyone imbibes the idea of taking fruits and vegetables and this is because they do not understand their importance. When you eat a diet that is rich in vegetables and fruits, you will be reaping all the vital nutrients.

Fruits and vegetables contain various minerals and vitamins that are needed to keep you healthy. And your body needs a constant supply of vitamins to keep a good health.

• Eat nutritious meals: Eating balanced and nutritious diet has a pivotal role to play in maintaining a good health. Your body and brain needs fuel to function well, and nutritious meals help to achieve this purpose.

If you do not eat good meals, you could have metabolism problems which is not great for your body. If you do not know how to go about eating healthy meals, you can contact a dietician for help.

• Have enough night rest: Our bodies need a minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep every day. No matter how strenuous your day could be, it is important to have enough rest. If your daily routine is flexible, it is a great idea to take a short nap in the afternoon.

There are other health measures like avoid too much fat and processed foods; avoid the sun rays when it is intense; drink moderately if you have to and a host of others.