All of us have times in our lives that we feel good about ourselves. But there are also stressful times when we are overloading with things and responsibilities; feel emotionally flat and not interested in life; or get worried about things and then blow up easily over daily hassles. Mental health is the ability of individuals to feel comfortable about themselves and other people, to enjoy life and cope with the demands of life. It underpins physical health because how we think and feel has a strong impact on physical health.
Are you emotionally healthy?
Men are much better at looking after their physical health than their emotional well-being. Some emotions are difficult to understand. However, some habits, attitudes or signs can alert us about our emotions. To assess your own level of emotional health and find out the source of your stress, try our test and get your stress index.
How we think and feel has a strong impact on physical health. Some negative feelings are hard to deal with by yourself. You can try talking to someone who cares, or using telephone counseling services.
Under prolonged stress, you will be more susceptible to diseases due to reduced immunity.
How can I help myself to maintain a lively mood?
There are plenty of ways to maintain your mental health, or to help yourself feel better.
Keep in touch with family and spend time with friends.
Eat fresh and healthy food.
Exercise regularly.
Have a good sleep.
Make time to relax and do things that you enjoy.
Avoid unnecessary arguments and conflict.
Don't bottle up if you are feeling low; get help if you need it.
Know your limits. Do not press yourself to do things that exceed your ability.
Never seek comfort from tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
What are negative emotions?
Negative emotions can be described as any feeling that causes you to be angry, jealous, hateful, miserable or sad. Yet some of these feelings are natural and unavoidable at times. Holding on these negative feelings over time, however, will stop you from thinking and behaving rationally, and incapacitate you to enjoy relationships and life.
How should I deal with negative emotions?
Some negative feelings are hard to deal with by yourself. It is helpful if you can talk to someone who cares, such as a trusted friend, a health professional or a clergy. If you feel uncomfortable talking about yourself in front of others or with anyone you know, you can try telephone counseling services which can give you opportunity to discuss things anonymously and it has worked well for many men.
How can I deal with anger?
Anger is a powerful emotion. If we do not handle our anger appropriately, it may have destructive results for our loved one and ourselves. Anger is a normal feeling and part of life. But uncontrolled anger can lead you to arguments, physical fight, assault or self-harm. On the other hand, bottled anger often turns us into depression and anxiety. When we feel angry, therefore, we need to express our anger in appropriate and healthy ways:
Walk away from the situation temporarily till you cool down.
Try going for a run or swim, punch a pillow, scream at something (e.g. a car or a tree)
Use pleasant activities like reading a book, watching a video, listening to your favourite music, or taking a bath.
Learn and practise relaxation techniques, e.g. yoga or meditation.
Talk to someone you trust, e.g. a friend, social worker, or try telephone counseling.
There are plenty of ways to maintain your mental health, or to help yourself feel better.
Keep in touch with family and spend time with friends.
Exercise regularly.
Have a good sleep.
Make time to relax and do things that you enjoy.
Never seek comfort from tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
How can I cope with family conflict?
Conflict can happen when family members have different views or beliefs that clash. It is normal to disagree with each other from time to time, and occasional argument is part of family life. However, ongoing conflict can be stressful and damaging to relationships. Prolonged fighting may lead to family breakup. There are methods of positive communication that can defuse conflict and things you can do to bring about a resolution. Suggestions include:
Try to cool off first if you feel too angry to talk calmly.
Work out if the issue is worth fighting over.
Keep in mind that the idea is to resolve the conflict, not to win the argument.
Try to actively listen to what the other person is saying. Do not interrupt while he/she is talking.
Communicate your side of the story honestly, clearly and reasonably.
Resist the urge to bring up other unrelated issues.
Talk to someone outside of your family, e.g. a social worker, a family counselor
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