Mental illness is a pervasive problem that affects people of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic level. Anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders are all examples of mental illnesses. Despite the high prevalence of mental illness, there is still a major stigma associated with mental health disorders, which can discourage people from seeking care.
New challenges emerge that can affect people in a variety of ways, including our mental health. We were threatened by Covid-19, and we were quarantined, which caused the majority of us to experience the same symptoms such as isolation, loneliness, anxiety, and sadness.
Aside from being a part of their development, various variables have shown to be substantial stressors in the lives of most teenagers, causing mental problems. It could be because of their surroundings, school, family troubles, unfavourable treatment, or internal struggle. In fact, anyone, regardless of age, could experience this, which could lead to mental problems.
While stress is an inherent nervous system response, some stressors occur at predictable times, such as your commute to work, a meeting with your employer, or family gatherings.
Avoid unneeded stress: It's not healthy to avoid a difficult situation that needs to be addressed, but you might be amazed at how many stressors you can reduce in your life.
Understand how to say no: Know your boundaries and stick to them. Taking on more than you can handle, whether in your personal or professional life, is a sure prescription for stress.
Avoid persons that cause you tension: Limit your time with that individual or quit the connection if they routinely generate stress in your life.
Take charge of your surroundings: Turn off the television if the nightly news makes you nervous. Take a longer but less-traveled route if traffic makes you nervous
Alter the circumstance
If you are unable to avoid a stressful situation, try to change it. Changing the way you interact and work in your daily life is frequently required.
Expressing Emotions: Instead of suppressing your emotions, express them. If something or someone is bothering you, express your concerns openly and respectfully. If you don't express your feelings, resentment will grow and your stress level will rise.
Be willing to make concessions: When you ask someone to modify their behavior, be prepared to change your own. You'll have a better chance of finding a happy middle ground if you're both prepared to bend at least a bit.
Adapt the stressor
Change yourself if you can't change the stressor. By altering your expectations and attitude, you may adapt to difficult events and restore control.
Problems should be reframed: Try to see unpleasant situations in a more positive light. Rather than complaining about a traffic jam, consider it an opportunity to recover, listen to your favorite radio station, or spend some alone time.
Consider the big picture: Consider the situation from a different angle. Consider how essential it will be in the long run. Will it make a difference in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting worked up about? If the answer is no, redirect your attention and energy elsewhere.
Accept what you can't change
Some sources of stress cannot be avoided. Stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious sickness, or a national recession cannot be avoided or changed. In such instances, accepting things as they are is the greatest way to deal with stress.
Don't try to control what can't be controlled: Many aspects of life are beyond our control, notably other people's behaviour. Rather than worrying about them, concentrate on the things you can control, such as how you respond to challenges.
Understand how to forgive: Accept that we live in an imperfect world where people make mistakes. By forgiving and moving on, you can rid yourself of negative energy.
Express your emotions: Even if there is nothing you can do to change the unpleasant circumstance, expressing your feelings can be immensely soothing. Make an appointment with a therapist or a trustworthy friend.
We may utilize our voices to raise awareness about mental health difficulties that some of us are now dealing with. We do not want to live in a world where we feel alone, and we do not want others to feel the same way. Taking care of one's mental health is critical for our overall well-being and how we influence those around us. Speak up, use your voice, and advocate for mental health education.
Mahmudul Hasan Shesheir is a public health researcher at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health. Mehadi Hasan Shawon is a Graduate student at North Dakota State University, USA.