Your mental health is every bit as important as your physical health — and, in fact, those two aspects of your overall health are closely connected. Poor mental health can make you feel physically weak or sick, and vice versa. As you go through life, you need to be just as mindful of your mental health as you are of your physical health. We’re here to talk about how to do that.
Food, drink, and supplements
When it comes to mental health, you really are what you eat — or, at least, you feel like what you eat. Eat what’s great for your body, and you’re more likely to feel great. Eat garbage, and you’ll most likely feel like garbage, too.
There are other factors in mental health, of course, but virtually anyone can improve their mental health by making improvements to their diet. A plant-based whole foods diet is best, so cut back on those processed foods and try to do better for your body. Skip sugary drinks, too (even diet ones), and keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. Do all of this, and you’ll be eating pretty well without having to do things like count calories and macronutrients — though you are welcome to do that stuff, too, of course.
There are also plenty of medicines and supplements to consider, including the latest craze: CBD. CBD is derived from marijuana, but it won’t get you high. It stands to reason that CBD would be legal in states with legal marijuana, so it’s fair to ask: Is CBD legal in Colorado, California, and other legal-weed states? The answer is yes, generally (though if you’re looking to sell CBD rather than just buy it, you should contact an attorney who specializes in marijuana, THC, and CBD law). And, in fact, CBD is widely legal or de facto legal in many other states. That’s good news, because CBD — which does not get users high — can help with anxiety and other mental health issues.
Addiction and other mental health issues
Mental health is complicated. It’s not just about depression, anxiety, or any other single mental health issue. Often, our mental health status depends on intersecting concerns — and one that looms large is the use of alcohol and other drugs.
Addiction is a mental illness and, in some ways, a physical one. And many addictive substances can mess with your mental health: For instance, in addition to all of its physical dangers, alcohol’s status as a depressant can bring down your mood.
And it’s not just addiction, explain the experts at Polaris Teen Center. Other things, including mental health issues as well as simple realities of life, can influence your mental health. For instance, mental health issues are more common among the LGBTQ community and among those of lower socioeconomic status.
Getting a checkup
You wouldn’t go for years without visiting a doctor — or even a dentist, for that matter. Most of us understand that the work that we do on our own can’t keep our bodies free from disease and our teeth safe from tooth decay. We work out, eat well, and brush our teeth, but we still don’t skip regular checkups and professional care!
Do the same thing for you mental health. You should care for your mental health daily, but you should never assume that you can get by without checking in with a professional. Talk to your primary care physician about your options for being mentally health and checking in with a psychologist or psychiatrist to make sure that you stay that way.