Why Is It Important to Take Care of Our Mental Health? Your mental health is just as important to your overall health as your physical health is. It affects how you make decisions, your ability to have relationships with others and your ability to adapt to change, which is vital nowadays. Because our mental and physical health are tied together, you can experience physical health symptoms when your mental health dips, making care for yourself extra important.

Effects of Poor Mental Health

• Sadness
• Confused thinking
• Excessive fears or worries
• Extreme feelings of guilt
• Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Problems sleeping

What Can I Do to Start Practicing Self-Care?

One way to take care of your mental health is through self-care. Self-care is more than just taking a bubble bath—although that can be one way you take time for yourself. However, you also want to make sure you are unplugging throughout the day and taking time to just sit and be—whether with a good book or a journal. Essentially, self-care is any activity that takes care of you. That can include paying careful attention to your physical and mental health, along with your overall well-being.

Other Ways to Improve Your Mental Health

• Maintain healthy, thriving relationships.
• Challenge yourself regularly.
• Practice gratitude.
• Check in with yourself.
• Learn about mindfulness meditation.
• Prioritize your sleep.

Not feeling like yourself? Visit AFC Urgent Care Farragut today for a medical evaluation and treatment plan. No appointment is needed.]]>