5 Things That Could Be Impacting Your Mental Health

On the JJ Barnes Blog, we live in a world where so many things can be impacting your mental health, so I’m exploring 5 common ones and steps we can take to stay well.

5 Things That Could Be Impacting Your Mental Health

Sleep 

One thing that may be hurting your mental health is the amount and the quality of sleep you get. We are designed to spend a third of our lives sleeping, and when we don’t get enough good-quality sleep, it can have a massive impact on all areas of our health, both physically and mentally. 

Indeed, studies have shown that when we don’t get enough sleep, we are at a greater risk of mental health issues such as mood swings, anxiety and depression. It also means we are more susceptible to stress, and not getting enough good quality sleep can also exacerbate any other conditions we have, from Bipolar to ADHD. 

How To Improve Sleep

To improve the quality and quantity of sleep we get, we first must identify what is getting in the way of a good night’s rest. It could be that we have young children and have to accept a broken sleep schedule for now. Although there are always small changes we can make, such as napping in the day or rotating who gets up with the baby with a partner, that can help. 

Another issue that can be contributing to a sleep problem is not having a sleep area that is comfortable enough. For instance, a room that is decorated in neutral colours can help promote rest, and a mattress that is designed to help support the way in which you sleep means you will wake up less in the night and so get better quality sleep. 

Lastly, banning phones from the bedroom can also be a good way to increase the quality and quantity of your sleep. This is because not only does it limit blue light exposure, which can be stimulating to the brain, but it also helps us get into a more restful mental state, which makes falling asleep and staying asleep longer, easier. 

Diet 

Another important aspect of your life that can impact your mental health is what you eat, or your diet, as it’s also known. Indeed, your diet is vitally important for all aspects of your health, including mental health, particularly as some foods are not designed to promote an anti-inflammatory effect, which can have a positive impact on the way we feel and how we perform cognitively. 

How To Improve Diet

In particular, a whole food diet that is packed with fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy fats and proteins, is currently believed to be the very best for promoting mental health. Similarly, avoiding processed foods, especially hydrolysed oils and processed sugars, is also better for overall health and well-being, including mental health. 

Purpose 

Viktor Frankl once said that humans can endure any form of suffering as long as they have a purpose. Indeed, having a purpose can be a very useful thing when it comes to mental health. Especially when we understand that everyone experiences some form of suffering in their lives. 

How To Find Purpose

Yet a purpose can keep us going even when things are tough, and we feel like giving up. Of course, each person’s purpose will be unique to them, and it should hold some specific meaning that motivates the person to pursue it. For some, it’s running marathons for charity, for others, it’s following a vocation like being a doctor or a teacher as they help make the world a better place. 

It can be tricky to find your purpose in life, but it can help to carefully consider the things that matter to you most, as well as the things you enjoy and are good at. It’s often where these things cross over that your purpose can be found. 

Neurodiversity 

Neurodiversity is also a factor that could be impacting your mental health. Neurodiverity is a term for those of us whose brains are not neurotypical, and includes those with conditions such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and even Tourette’s syndrome. 

These types of neurodiversity are not disorders to be cured, but instead are natural human variations in the way the brain is structured and works. However, because they are different from the neurotypical brain, it can make things hard for those who have these conditions, because the world is set up for the former rather than the latter. This means that those with neurodiverity may have to work much harder to maintain what most people think of as a normal life, which can bring a great deal of stress and a higher likelihood of anxiety and depression along with it. 

How To Support Neurodiversity

One thing that can be helpful in such a case is to go through an assessment that recognises and picks up on neurodivergence, such as this type of autism test you can do online. Indeed, by getting tested and discovering any underlying neurodiversity, you will be able to get additional support and accommodations that will make it easier to thrive and be happy, thus positively impacting your mental health. 

Being too hard on yourself 

So many of us believe that if we are just that little bit more disciplined that we will find happiness and success. That we can judge ourselves into happiness and mental well-being. However, this is rarely, if ever, the case. Instead, being too hard on yourself and having unrealistic expectations can be detrimental to your mental health. This is because a constant stream of criticism and goals that are impossible to achieve is likely to cause a low mood, and start a negative cycle that its very difficult to get out of. 

How To Be Kind To Yourself

Instead, showing ourselves compassion, even when we are not perfect, can be very beneficial for mental health. Indeed, loving ourselves unconditionally can be much more useful in this world where we are all humans, and we will all make mistakes. 

Similarly, setting ourselves small, attainable targets is a great way to build confidence and momentum, which will in turn ste up us to succeed in the long run. So, next time you feel yourself getting negative, take a step back and see how you can ease up on yourself and cut yourself a little slack.