4 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health

We often talk about mental health in negative ways which further reinforces the stigma around seeing a therapist. What we don’t often hear are conversations about mental wellness.

Mental health isn’t just about illness and diagnosis, it’s about having a range of options from which to choose. This means, in any given moment, we have the ability to choose how we respond to people around us and our own moods instead of popping off or shutting down.

You may not be able to choose how you react-because reactions are automatic and based on previous experiences; however, we are responsible for our behavior. Two very different things.

When we’re stuck in the trauma responses of fight, flight or freeze and even fawn, the option to choose may not sound possible, but it is. Practicing daily mental wellness can help.

Here’s how to improve your mental wellness by hacking your happiness chemicals:

Serotonin

helps stabilize our moods. Slowing down through, meditation, daydreaming, and deep breathing can all help to improve our mood. You get bonus points by getting outdoors.

Dopamine

helps us feel rewarded and purposeful. Practicing gratitude, being creative, and consistently acknowledging and celebrating small wins all send messages to our brains that life is good.

Endorphins

are considered to the “pain killers” and they say laughter is the best medicine. When you’re in pain, watch a comedy and see how it helps. Dark chocolate also helps.

Oxytocin

is the love and contentment hormone and playing is a powerful way to increase it. Spending time with people we love and helping others also contributes to our happiness. The next time you greet a loved one, give them a hug and hold it for at least 20 seconds. You might notice an instant drop in your stress level.

So there you have it...some easy ways to improve your mental wellness so you can experience more satisfaction and contentment.

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