October is National Emotional Wellness Month. The National institute of Health offers tips to improve your emotional mental health. Everyone feels stressed from time to time but it may be hard to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress. Stress is how the body and the brain respond to any demand. The problem is not everyone deals with stress the same way.
Not all stress is bad. Often stress will help motivate us to get something done. Stress may actually help a person get a better grade on a test or win a race. But stress can also build up and causes problems.
Long-term stress can harm your health and over a long period of time; it can cause strain on your body and cause serious health problems. This is why learning to manage your emotional wellness is so important. There are ways to manage or handle life’s stresses and adapt to the difficult times.
Six strategies for improving your emotional health can be found at: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/emotional-wellness-toolkit
During the last two years the word “resilience” has been used quite often. People who are emotionally well have fewer negative emotions and are able to bounce back after difficult situations.
The first step to improving your emotional health is to develop a more positive mindset by practicing gratitude and spending time with positive people. The second tip is to manage your stress by getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and finding an activity that is relaxing to you. The third important tip is to get quality sleep. Sleep affects both our mental and physical health. Sleep helps you think more clearly, have quicker reflexes and focus better.
Fourth, practice being aware of what is happening in the present – all that is going on around and inside of you. Stop and take some deep breaths in through your nose, hold it for a second and then slowly exhale through your mouth. It may be necessary to repeat this throughout the day until you are totally aware of what is happening in your body.
Fifth, if someone you love dies, your world changes. To help cope with this loss, take care of yourself. Talk to a good and caring friend. Be patient with yourself. Grieving is very difficult and mourning just takes time.
The sixth strategy is to strengthen your social connections. This has been particularly difficult over the last year and a half but it is important to find ways to connect to help your emotional wellness. Reach out to your family and friends but make connections with new groups, take a class or volunteer for something you care about. Social connections can greatly influence your emotional well-being.
Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at bunruh@ksu.edu.
