The topic of how to boost mental health has been swirling since the rise of social media. Whether talking about how to manifest your emotions or let go of things that don’t serve us, we can all agree that mental health is essential to finding fulfillment in life.
The term “mental health” encompasses our emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Our mental health affects every aspect of our life, including how we sleep, interact with others, handle stress, and ultimately make life choices.
Several factors can contribute to our overall mental health and well-being, including past traumas, mental health pre-dispositions, genetics, social isolation, severe stress, and other life circumstances. Adverse mental health may manifest as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, or eating disorders.
How to Boost Mental Health Before and After Bariatric Surgery
Although bariatric surgery helps patients lose weight and regain their health, it does not fix the mental issues that existed before their surgery. Therefore, it is important to focus just as much on how to boost mental health as it is to focus on your physical health.
Meditation
When we think about mental health, we often think about meditation and mindfulness practice. Meditation is considered a form of mind-body therapy that intends to create a deep state of relaxation. Mediation works to focus your attention on your breath while eliminating the thoughts and emotions that are crowding your mind and causing anxiety.
Studies have found that meditation can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression in patients. Meditation lowers cortisol levels (aka the stress hormone), which helps you feel more relaxed and at ease.
Meditation focuses on mindfulness, or the ability to control your emotions when faced with stressful situations. Meditation practice helps you gain a different, more positive perspective on stressful situations and equips you with the mental and emotional tools to help you better manage stress. Through meditation practice, you can increase self-awareness and tolerance of stress while eliminating negative emotions.
There are several ways to practice meditation, including guided meditation, mindful meditation, mantra meditation, and yoga. All forms of meditation are beneficial in improving your mental health.
Exercise
Studies have found that regular physical activity can improve mental health by promoting relaxation, reducing anxiety, boosting energy, and improving self-esteem. By engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise several times a week, you can positively transform your mood and outlook on life.
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, the “feel good” hormone. Endorphins can help relieve pain, reduce stress, lower anxiety, and improve your sense of well-being. Studies have reported that regular exercise reduces low self-esteem and social withdrawal.
Similarly, exercise is linked to better sleep, which helps you manage your mood and have more mental clarity throughout your day. Regular physical activity can improve the ability to cope and the sense of emotional control during stressful situations. Exercise can also be an outlet for pent-up frustrations in your home or work life.
Thirty minutes of moderate-intensity exercises, such as a brisk walk, is enough to get mental health benefits. Moreover, the 30 minutes do not need to be continuous; three 10-minute walks are equally valuable as one 30-minute walk.