Our mental health is a very important component of our well-being, and taking care of it is very important. To avoid breaking down with chronic mental disorders, learn the ways to care for your mental health as a Nigerian lady.
Table of Contents
What is Mental Health?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is essential at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood and aging.
Good mental health doesn’t necessarily mean being happy all the time. Women with good mental health can experience happiness and sadness, anger and excitement, all in healthy ways. when you have a good habit to improve mental health, it means your mind can perform all its functions appropriately. You can do things such as:
- Learn new information
- Build strong relationships with other people
- Adapt quickly to change
- Experience a range of emotions in a healthy way
- Work and contribute productively
A variety of factors can affect your mental function and health. These factors can be as simple as being sleep-deprived or hungry or as complex as eating disorders and major depression. Depending on your state of mental health, you can increase your well-being with healthy habits. If you’re concerned about your mental health’s current state, then seek the support of experienced healthcare professionals.
Insight Tip: How to Build Your Self-Confidence as a Nigerian Woman
7 Reasons Why Your Mental Health is Important?
If you still doubt the importance of learning the ways to care for your mental health as a Nigerian lady, here are some reasons for you to think otherwise.
- Mental health is crucial because it can help you to:
- Cope with the stresses of life
- Be physically healthy
- Have a good relationship
- Make meaningful contributions to your community
- Work productively
- Realize your full potential
Women’s Mental Health Issues
Women often face different mental health challenges than men. Women have a higher rate of anxiety and depression, which can be related to physical health factors. Changes in hormones can lead to postpartum depression, depression during menopause, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
How women experience mental health conditions can also be different. While some men may need aft out in anger due to depression, women are more likely to experience fatigue, sadness, and lack of motivation
Each year, around 29 million American women experience mental health conditions. It’s important to remember that you are not alone. You can find support through friends, family, your community, and your healthcare provider. Learn more ways to care for your mental health as a Nigerian lady.
7 Most Common Mental Disorders Women in Nigeria Suffer
Some of the most common mental disorders mostly associated with Nigerian women include;
- Anxiety disorders
- Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive Illness)
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
To avoid having any of these mental disorders, it is advisable to learn the ways to care for your mental health as a Nigerian lady.
10 Best Ways to Care for Your Mental Health as a Nigerian Lady
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Staying positive
It’s essential to try to have a positive outlook; some ways to do that include finding a balance between positive and negative emotions. Staying positive doesn’t mean that you never feel negative emotions, such as sadness or anger. It would help if you thought them so that you can move through difficult situations.
They can help you to respond to a problem. But you don’t want those emotions to take over. For example, it’s not helpful to keep thinking about bad things that happened in the past or worry too much about the future—trying to hold on to the positive emotions when you have them.
Read also: Embracing positive mindset and its benefits
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Talk about your feelings
Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled.
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Keep active
Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and can help you concentrate, sleep, and feel better. Exercise keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy and is also a significant benefit towards improving your mental health.
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Eat well
Your brain needs a mix of nutrients to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body. A diet that’s good for your physical health is also good for your mental health.
Read also: Indigenous Nigerian foods to lift your mood and nourish your body
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Drink sensibly
We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary. When the drink wears off, you feel worse because of how the alcohol has affected your brain and the rest of your body. Drinking is not an excellent way to manage complicated feelings.
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Keep in touch
When the drink wears off, you feel worse because of how the alcohol has affected your brain and the rest of your body. Drinking is not an excellent way to manage complicated feelings.
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Ask for help
None of us are superhuman. We sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things don’t plan. If things are getting too much for you and you think you can’t cope, ask for help. Your family or friends may be able to offer practical support or a listening ear.
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Take a break
A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health. It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work, or a weekend exploring somewhere new. A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you. Give yourself some me-time.
Feel like unwinding with fun yet engaging conversations? Join our whatsapp community of people with different opinions and witty remarks.
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Do something you are good at
What do you love doing? Are there any activities that keep you engrossed? Enjoying yourself can help beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you are good at it, and achieving something boosts your self-esteem.
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Accept who you are
We are all different, and it’s much healthier to accept that you are unique than to wish you were more like someone else. Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends. Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.
Conclusion
To live a fulfilled life as a lady, you need to have balanced mental health. These tips listed above are the best ways to care for your mental health as a Nigerian lady, they will help put your mental health in check.
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About Author
Ejianreh Emmanuel-Mario is a Geophysicst who has great interest in research and content writing. He is also a Pianist and a lover of good music.
About Author
- Op-Ed are articles published by guest authors. We no longer accept guest posts. However, we are still open to adding long-term content contributors to our team of insightful writers. To write for us, please check out inisght.ng/guest-post.
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