Articles on Emotional Health: 8 Ways to Take Charge for Happiness

June 20, 2015
DUNIA Contributor
Posted in Home and Wellbeing

Emotional health is just as important as physical health, but most individuals fail to pay attention to it. To be emotionally healthy is to be in control of our feelings and mood; it also means being able to consciously minimize the effects of stress in our lives.

Photo: F. Grifoni

According to the American Psychology Association, being emotionally healthy can lead to success at work, in personal relationships and overall well-being. In the past, researchers believed that success made people happy; newer research however reveals that it’s the other way round… happy people are more likely to work towards goals, they are more motivated to find the resources they need to be successful, and network with others more easily — all of which are important building blocks of success.

While life continues to evolve there will be large and small changes that will disrupt our peace and quiet. It is key that paying attention to emotional health and well-being is at the top of everyone’s list.

Here are 7 ways to take charge of emotional health for a happy life:

1- Prioritize. Do what is important to you and those who most rely on you first.

Photo: ANGELOUX

Statistics show that women are twice more likely than men to experience depression. According to Mental Health America, social factors such as stress from work, family responsibilities, the roles and expectations of women and increased rates of sexual abuse and poverty contribute highly to this.

Learning to set firm boundaries and knowing how far you are willing to go and for whom, are important steps toward improving emotional health.

2- Learn to say no. Some things just have to wait. You only have 24 hours a day during which you can only do so much. Saying NO prevents an individual from feeling overwhelmed and helps make room for activities that matter most for psychological satisfaction and emotional health.
3- Help family members learn to share the workload at home. Remember the saying “Many hands make the work lighter” … not only does teamwork strengthen family bonds, members’ emotional health is easily maintained when everyone does their part.
4- Consider your needs and how to meet them. Set aside some time each day for yourself. Putting you first is not selfish, it helps a person refill and creates more emotional balance.
5- Seek balance. Each area of your life needs attention: physical, spiritual, social, work, mental, and emotional.

Photo: Marie Griffiths

6- Exercise relieves stress.

“For many years, experts have known that exercise enhances the action of endorphins, chemicals that circulate throughout the body. Endorphins improve natural immunity and reduce the perception of pain. They may also serve to improve mood. Another theory is that exercise stimulates the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which may directly improve mood. Besides lifting your mood, regular exercise offers other health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, protecting against heart disease and cancer, and boosting self-esteem.” (Harvard Medical School)

7- Friends can help in times of distress.

Take charge of your emotional health by surrounding yourself with happy like-minded people. A study published in The BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) in 2008 concluded that people’s happiness depends on the happiness of others with whom they are connected.

Photo: Jaume Ventura

8- Get help if your situation becomes more than you can handle. Do not hold off on addressing emotional health issues.

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, early warning signs that a person may need help include: eating or sleeping too much or too little; pulling away from people and usual activities; having low or no energy; feeling numb or like nothing matters; having unexplained aches and pains; feeling helpless or hopeless; smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual; feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared; yelling or fighting with family and friends; experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships; Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head; hearing voices or believing things that are not true; thinking of harming yourself or others; inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school.

A counselor, healthcare provider, family member, friend or support group may be a good resource.

All is good that ends well. Prioritize your emotional well-being today for health is the greatest wealth!

(Most of the information included in ‘Articles on Emotional Health: 8 Ways to take charge for happiness’ is distributed for free by U.S. health departments)