Many people don’t know about the mental wellness vs mental health argument. In this blog post, I’m sharing the differences and similarities between mental health and mental wellness, and why they’re both important to your overall health.
Mental wellness vs mental health is a subject that many people have opened discussion about. Because of the perceived similarities between the two, many people think they’re the same.
But while they are similar, there are some key differences that make mental wellness completely different from mental health. That’s why in this blog post, I’m talking about mental wellness vs mental health, their similarities and differences, and why they’re both important in your life.
After this blog post, you’ll be equipped to handle any mental obstacles that come your way.
Mental Wellness VS Mental Health:
According to the WHO(World Health Organization), mental wellness is a state of well-being where a person realizes their own abilities, can cope with normal stress in life, can work productively, and can make a contribution to their community.
Basically, it’s our overall mental wellbeing. If your mental wellness is in a good place, it probably means that overall, you feel good about life. You enjoy it and are happy!
It doesn’t necessarily relate to mental illness, but to be mentally well, self-care is a must; it ensures that you’re holistically taking care of your mental place and wellness.
But then, what’s mental health?
While mental health does relate to your mental wellbeing, it also relates to serious mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. It affects the way we think, act, and behave.
A big problem when we talk about mental health is that it’s always about mental illness; this term has almost a negative connotation because of the pollution surrounding the topic.
The Similarities & Differences:
The similarities are obvious; both mental health and wellness deal with the brain. They play extremely important roles in a person’s life, and if your mental health and wellness is poor, chances are you’re going to be unhappy.
It is so so important for you to prioritize your mental wellness AND your mental health; they work together to help you create a balanced, fulfilling life.
However, they are different in some aspects.
Mental wellness is holistic; it’s referring to the overall quality of your life. Through self-care and mindfulness, you can become mentally well and live a well-rounded life.
Mental health is more specific; it refers to your behavior and your actions that are often caused by how mentally healthy you are. Based on how good your mental health is, you could suffer from mental illnesses and disorders like anxiety, PTSD, and depression.
Oftentimes, people go to therapy to help improve their mental health.
How To Improve Your Mental State:
Like I’ve mentioned, mental health and wellness are both super important to your overall happiness, so I’m going to give you some tips to help improve your mental state.
1. Identify Your Triggers
This is something that really helped me. I would notice that all my feelings of anxiety would come up, but I never knew why.
But once I took the time to find out what triggered my sadness and anxiousness, I better learned how to deal with it. Keep in mind, it’s still a work in progress 😉 Butttt, knowing my triggers helped me improve my mental state, and I bet it could help you too.
2. Incorporate Self-Care Daily
This is a must!!! Self-care is a pillar of good mental wellness, and it’s not that hard to practice.
I know that everyone thinks that self-care means that you have to “beautify” yourself, but trust me, it doesn’t have to be that. While I know a lot of people find comfort in painting their nails or doing a face mask, there are other ways to practice self-care, like taking a walk or watching TV.
At the end of the day, as long as you incorporate even a little time for you in the day to do what you love, then you’re golden!
3. Journal
Journaling is a great way to stay in touch with your feelings. It doesn’t have to be pages and pages; even a paragraph about your day can help you attain closure for the events that happen daily.
If you’re not a fan of writing, try voice memos(it’ll be super cool to listen to again later in time when you’re in a different stage of life)!
4. Get Outdoors
I need to do this. Mother Nature is so beautiful, and it’s actually proven that going outdoors can improve your mental state(something related to the increased exposure of oxygen to the brain).
Whether it be a quick walk or a full-on hike through the woods, a little bit of outdoor time daily can do a lot for your soul.
5. Go To Therapy If Needed
Even though we’ve made great strides in the conversation surrounding therapy, it’s still a taboo topic for no reason. Sometimes, you need help and that’s okay! Don’t feel ashamed to ask for help when you need it; if you feel like therapy is what you need to improve your mental state, then go for it.
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