Mental health in a nutshell
One of the more interesting things I have seen in people over the years is a tendency to assume that a life issue is a mental illness. There are some really easy interventions that can do a world of good before going to therapy or drug intervention.
1. Get enough sleep: lacking a good nights sleep can really mess you up and create a host of pathologies, physical and psychological. 6 hours a night is likely a good minimum with 8-9 hours being optimal.
2. Eat right: Cheap calories led to energy crashing and exhaustion. Vitamin deficiencies can cause even bigger problems. Simply eliminating snacks and fast food can dump a lot of empty calories from the diet
3. Exercise: Getting just a modicum of physical activity can shift mood dramatically. Depression, ADHD and Anxiety disorders have been successfully treated by adding an exercise program.
4. Have sex. Sex is one of the primary means of social reinforcement and self care. Increasing sexual activity releases a host of neural substances connected with well being. Partner sex is strongly support but masturbation should be pursued as well. Chances are there a few people around you that are similarly looking for some sexual support. Ask around, there's a whole world of people who are getting insufficient amounts of sex. I generally suggest every other day is good with more frequent sexual arousal being a good thing.
Note that pretty much all of these can be implemented without drugs or therapy. I think that the majority of the people I see who are seeking mental health treatment would benefit from these simple interventions. In fact, one of the warning signs we used to talk about was HALT (Hungry, Lonely, Angry or Tired). Any of these states were indicative of an upcoming problem. Looking at it now, I wonder if angry is generally a reflection of the other three states. Have you talked with anyone lately? Have you been taking care of yourself?
1. Get enough sleep: lacking a good nights sleep can really mess you up and create a host of pathologies, physical and psychological. 6 hours a night is likely a good minimum with 8-9 hours being optimal.
2. Eat right: Cheap calories led to energy crashing and exhaustion. Vitamin deficiencies can cause even bigger problems. Simply eliminating snacks and fast food can dump a lot of empty calories from the diet
3. Exercise: Getting just a modicum of physical activity can shift mood dramatically. Depression, ADHD and Anxiety disorders have been successfully treated by adding an exercise program.
4. Have sex. Sex is one of the primary means of social reinforcement and self care. Increasing sexual activity releases a host of neural substances connected with well being. Partner sex is strongly support but masturbation should be pursued as well. Chances are there a few people around you that are similarly looking for some sexual support. Ask around, there's a whole world of people who are getting insufficient amounts of sex. I generally suggest every other day is good with more frequent sexual arousal being a good thing.
Note that pretty much all of these can be implemented without drugs or therapy. I think that the majority of the people I see who are seeking mental health treatment would benefit from these simple interventions. In fact, one of the warning signs we used to talk about was HALT (Hungry, Lonely, Angry or Tired). Any of these states were indicative of an upcoming problem. Looking at it now, I wonder if angry is generally a reflection of the other three states. Have you talked with anyone lately? Have you been taking care of yourself?