3 Ways To Improve Your Mental Health

Your mental health and wellbeing should always be a top priority. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing millions of Americans to quarantine at home, find childcare, balance a job, or look for a new one, depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health disorders are at an all-time high. While these days can be extremely challenging for many, there are ways to improve your mental health and come out of these trying times on top.

Whether you’re experiencing mental health issues for the first time or your pre-existing mental health ailments are heightened, take time to focus on your health and wellbeing with these three tips. As with any health condition, it’s important to find the right doctor and to speak with a trained medical professional if your symptoms get worse.

1. Try Online Therapy

Many clinics and practitioners had to close their doors to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This left millions of people needing help without the resources they need. In most cases, therapists had to limit the number of patients they could take, and were required to only take on emergency cases.

However, in the digital age we now live in, you can connect with a professional therapist online. There are numerous online therapy platforms where you can schedule an appointment with a therapist and get the help you need. What’s better, you can do this from the comfort of your own home while keeping you and your therapist safe from the disease. All you need is a smartphone or computer with a microphone and camera, and you’ll be one step closer to getting the help you need.

2. CBD

There are many natural supplements on the market that can help improve your mental health. One up and coming natural supplement is cannabidiol (CBD). CBD has proven to help serious medical conditions like depression and anxiety by influencing receptors in your brain to respond to your serotonin levels in a new way. In turn, CBD can produce antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects to help you feel calm and at ease.

There are numerous ways you can take CBD:

  • Oral: With tinctures, capsules, and oils, you can take CBD directly through your mouth or mixed with any foods or drinks you eat, just as a smoothie or coffee.
  • Vaping: With a vape pen, you can take CBD vape juice for anxiety and depression to easily consume the compound. However, there is still some speculation about the safety of this method, as it can cause coughing and throat irritation.
  • Edible: There is a whole market of edible CBD products you can take in the form of an edible, such as CBD brownies, chocolate bars, cookies, gummies, and even beverages like water.
  • Topical: There are numerous beauty products that now infuse CBD into their ingredients to not only help your skin but your overall health, as well. Topicals include face masks, lip balm, and lotion. However, topical CBD products are often used for pain, not mental health.

Knowing the different ways you can consume CBD can help you decide which product will work best for you.

3. Go Outdoors

Believe it or not, simply going outside can help improve your mental health. Getting connected with nature has proven to reduce the stress hormone cortisol, which can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and other mental health disorders. Nature can also help with emotional regulation, which can reduce the symptoms of depression and help you get a new perspective on life. Other benefits of getting outdoors include lower blood pressure, a boost to your immune system, and more energy.

If you’re wondering where to start, you don’t need to begin with a grueling hike up Mount Everest. There are plenty of ways you can get outdoors, such as buying a hammock to set up in your backyard. Meeting people with similar interests to go on a walk in the park, or even exercising by going for a jog throughout your neighborhood.

Wrapping up

If you’re experiencing any symptoms of mental health disorders, it’s time to take action to get to a better place. While these options merely scratch the surface on ways you can improve your mental health, they serve as great starting blocks. If you’re in a state of distress and need confidential support, always reach out to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255.

*collaborative post

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