8 Activities To Help Combat Mental Health Issues

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According to the World Health Organization, mental health issues affect one in four people. This includes depression and anxiety, through to conditions such as bipolar and schizophrenia.  Mental health problems can be very debilitating. They can stop you from working or enjoying the quality of life that you deserve. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at a few things that you could do to help you with your mental health problems. 

1. Deep Breathing 

One of the best things that you can do if you are someone that experiences stress, anxiety, and depression is to breathe deeply. Breathing deep helps you to focus your mind by giving you a good burst of oxygen. 

Breathe in slowly over five seconds. Then hold your breath for six seconds. Finally, breathe out over the course of seven seconds. 

2. Exercise 

Exercise is great for mental health problems because when you exercise you create endorphins. These feel-good hormones can help you to fight the symptoms of stress and anxiety and help pick your mood up. 

If you haven’t exercised for a while, start off small. Don’t push yourself too hard. Try running or walking for a few minutes at a time and build up. 

3. Do Some Household Chores 

It may not sound like a lot of fun, but doing the household chores could be good for your mental health. Vacuuming your home, or doing the dishes could help you to feel better. Who knew?

4. Paint By Numbers 

Something which you may find therapeutic is painting by numbers. Because you are concentrating and being creative at the same time, you will find that painting can help to ease feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression and start to gradually lift your mood. 

Start off by looking for easy things to paint and work up as you develop your skills. 

5. Dance 

If you are feeling down, force yourself to dance. Put some music on and dance like nobody is watching you. Let yourself go and work through all of your emotions with some crazy dance moves. 

6. Sudoku

Again, concentrating on a simple task can help to stimulate your brain and help ease feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety. Sudoku is a great puzzle that gets your mind working and helps you to concentrate. 

7. Gardening 

Many people who experience mental health difficulties swear by gardening as a way of dealing with their problems. Gardening is a great way of getting fresh air. Some people say there is something in the soil that helps with mental health problems. 

8. Sleep

If you are going through a hard time with your mental health problems, then you should think about the amount of sleep that you are getting. You should always aim to get a full eight hours worth of sleep each night. If you struggle to get to sleep in the first place, sprinkle some lavender oil on your pillow before you go to get and this will help to relax you.

Written by ItsSandraLynn