Struggling with your mental health? 11 hugely impactful things you can do to help

Mental Health

Dec 29

By Rita Howard // EEW Magazine Online // Mental Health

Being a Christian does not exempt you from mental health struggles. Even when you follow Christ, emotional and psychological issues caused by the pandemic, grief, trauma, or bad genetics, are a real concern for millions.

If you are battling depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or other distressing psychological conditions, there is no shame in that.

Let EEW Magazine Online help you by offering 11 hugely impactful things you can do to improve your mental health as shared by our resident expert, Christian psychiatrist, Dr. Ava Olston.

While the list is not exhaustive, it is inclusive of both practical and spiritual solutions.

Dr. Ava says do the following:

#1 Read Scripture: The word of God always works, even when you don’t feel like it’s doing anything positive for your mental and emotional condition. Anybody who tells you otherwise is misguided and flat-out wrong. Open your Bible (app) and let God speak to you through his word.

#2 Pray. If you can only manage to get out two words—Help me—God hears that brief prayer. During a mental health crisis brought on by stress of any sort, the last thing you should do is stop communing with the Lord. Find time to express your needs. Even if you can only whisper, God hears our faintest cries and is responsive to them.

#3 Get some rest. As the saying goes, “The best bridge between hope and despair is often a good night’s sleep”—or an afternoon nap. Get some shuteye! If your mental health struggles are robbing you of sleep, your body cannot function at optimum capacity. Sleep refreshes and rejuvenates the mind, body, and soul. Be intentional about improving your sleep habits, and don’t be afraid to consult a doctor for help.

#4 Talk nice to yourself. Go easy on yourself when you’re struggling. Say kind words. Be gentle. Don’t beat yourself up for not being able to pull it together. If you are harsh and self-critical, you will only make matters worse. How can you expect to pick yourself up if you’re always kicking yourself when you’re already down? Be nice to you!

#5 Go to therapy. We all need somebody to talk to that will listen without judgment, offer expert advice, give effective solutions—and in some cases, use the miracle of modern medicine. A professional can help you sort out feelings and understand what may be going wrong in your brain. Self-diagnosis and self-treatment is not recommended. Mental illness is not a battle anyone should try to fight on their own; it’s impossible to win alone. You need help. Ask God to guide you to the right person to walk with you through this season.

#6 Hydrate. Many are shocked when they discover the link between dehydration and anxiety and depression. Well-documented research shows that water is crucial for maintaining your mental health, so add H20 to your weaponry in the fight against poor mental health.

#7 Honor your boundaries. If you don’t want to trigger yourself, make yourself more anxious, and make it nearly impossible to maintain emotional equilibrium, then honor your boundaries. It’s perfectly alright (and healthy!) to say no, take some things off your plate, and withdraw from activities and obligations that overstress you. Though you cannot hide away from the world, you must know when you have had enough, and be unafraid to walk away from things.

#8 Keep a gratitude journal. When everything feels wrong, reminding yourself of things that are right can help you feel better. You can easily accomplish this by keeping a gratitude journal! Simply jot down what you are thankful for, and this will keep your mind focused on positivity. It’s hard not to get lifted when your heart is filled with praise and thanksgiving for what God has done. For starters, he woke you up this morning. That’s a reason to be thankful.

#9 Eat something good for you. Eating regularly and healthily helps to stabilize your blood sugar and regulate your mood. Consume high-quality fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, protein, and serotonin-boosting snacks like air-popped popcorn and dark chocolate. Your belly, body, and brain will reward you when you eat right. When you don’t, you’ll feel worse both physically and mentally.

#10 Take your vitamins. Adding vitamins and supplements to your daily regimen is a healthy choice and can make a hugely positive impact on your mental health. Some suggestions are Vitamin D, Omega 3’s, Ashwagandha, B vitamins, Zinc, Magnesium, St. Johns Wort, Vitamin D, Gaba, and Tryptophan. There are other supplements that work as well. But remember to do your own research and consult your doctor before beginning any routine. A medical consultation is of the utmost importance if you are on prescription medications to ensure that there are no negative interactions between your vitamins and meds.

#11 Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness isn’t some spooky, new age, weird practice. It just means being fully present in the moment, self-aware, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around you. Being more mindful is as easy as including pauses and moments of reflection in your day. These are like mini self-check-ins. Ask, how am I doing right now? How am I feeling? Why? Plug in to yourself, not every once in a while but daily. Take inventory of your personal feelings and mood shifts to keep control of your emotions before things get out of hand.

Approaching mental health holistically is impossible if you are constantly failing to assess how you’re doing both practically and spiritually. Begin first with prayer and communion with God and branch out from there.

Our Heavenly Father knows what you need and cares deeply about your mental health. Put these tips into practice, and you will be well on your way to feeling better.

Dr. Ava Olston is a New York-based Christian psychiatrist who believes in treating patients holistically. She has maintained a thriving private practice for more than 10 years and resides with her husband, 3 children, and dog Sparky.