5 Reasons Your mental health Is Broken (and How to Fix It)

1. You're not getting enough sleep.

We’ve all heard of people who get less than 7 hours of sleep a day, which contributes to a whole host of negative symptoms, including depression. But what is a good night’s sleep? According to experts, 8-9 hours are considered the optimal amount of sleep for healthy adults. And while the recommended amount varies between individuals, for someone with anxiety or other major mental health conditions, they recommend 12 hours. Unfortunately, a lot of us cannot afford to spend upwards of $600 (£442) each month just on one more hour of sleep, let alone seven hours. That’s about $500, which could be spent better in therapy, on hobbies, or even going out to eat! So, how do we make ourselves so happy? We need to give ourselves time to relax, too. Here are some tips…

2. You think negative thoughts every waking moment.

The brain doesn’t operate at maximum capacity when negative thought is allowed to run rampant through your mind. When you allow negativity to run free about like it’s normal, that’s when you start feeling mentally drained. This constant negativity leads to negative self-talk and feelings of worthlessness. If you find yourself thinking these negative things, stop it immediately. Think positive thoughts instead, such as “I’m happy today” or “I’m proud of myself.” Even simple affirmations like “I love myself and I feel amazing.” Positive messages don’t have to be fancy words though — when you look in the mirror, or just say “thank you” to yourself, you don’t just become happier, but also much happier on the inside too! You may have to do this once a week throughout the week, but it will be well worth it over time. The key is in repeating this one thought each day. In fact, it takes no longer than 2 minutes to create this thought, and it’ll stay in your head forever.

3. Too many distractions.

It’s easy to think of social media when you’re out and about, but if you’re sitting here on your phone reading a book (just scrolling), then there’s a greater chance you’re missing important moments. At least 6 hours of screen time should be dedicated to working out, playing games or listening to music. What if the only thing interrupting you during those 3 hours isn’t you? A coffee… A friend… Someone I don’t know. These are small details, however, they add up and sometimes lead to larger ones. Spending some time by yourself doing nothing is way more relaxing and will actually help you relax before bed as well as prepare you for sleep. Try turning off all notifications and watching a movie, instead of scrolling through social media. Plus, try reducing the number of times a notification pops up by simply checking that you get at least half an hour of uninterrupted screen time each day! There’s no shame in taking five seconds every morning and doing nothing else, especially if the temptation is strong. Be aware of the number of times it does (or doesn’t) push you down. No notification means less stress, you’re less likely to feel down or low. Set boundaries. Not everyone wants to live in a bubble, but it definitely helps a little. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, and if you can’t get out for anything else for whatever reason, then why should you keep track of all the apps you use. Instead, focus on doing something exciting for yourself. You deserve to have quality time alone. Make some memories and be aware that you're having them.

4. Depression/anxiety.

You think back to days when everything was great. Maybe some friends you've never met, maybe just one really nice restaurant to try on every weekend. This isn’t the same things we’ve seen in 2021, but still have our ups and downs. With this being said, though, depression can play tricks that make your outlook a lot darker and sometimes even hopeless. Asking why you can’t seem happy doesn’t help you and won’t bring any joy to yourself. So if you can’t see happiness within yourself, get yourself checked out by someone or something else — whether that's a therapist, school, or a social event. Talk to someone. Listen to music or read a book, take a walk around the park or just watch television. Get something to distract you from whatever you’re facing. Do things that light you up. Remember all the good times, because even when things aren’t great right now, that memory will always be your happiest moment.

5. You’ve been overwhelmed.

Being mentally exhausted just feels natural, but as you’ve grown, and gained the skills of coping with the mental fatigue, it seems as if you’ve also got your own private battle on your hands. Having a difficult task to complete is completely new to you, and it’s difficult to concentrate on it, even when it’s done. It’s the feeling that pushes away all your energy, and you seem to be falling apart. From looking after the younger kids and putting together schoolwork for the rest of the week, to planning and managing a house, there’s so much to do. You’re sure that if there was ever a time that you needed to take a break, right now and in the middle of it is would be perfect. But you’d rather sit down and watch Netflix or YouTube videos until you hit that point where it will happen and then take over! Or perhaps you just want to cry and scream in your bedroom while you sit down and scroll through Instagram or Snap chat right along with so many others as a form of escapism. Either way - you’ve probably got these elements running in the background of your life, and you’re ready to shut them up and face the world for a few hours...but in reality, you’re just pushing away everything. If you want to improve, don’t underestimate the value of giving yourself time to yourself, even with work stuff to do. Make sure you’re making time for the person you want to be, and to the people you love. Make sure that you’re spending precious time of the day focused on yourself, otherwise you’ll end feeling burnt out, depressed and worse at work. Be realistic, and know that you need to take a pause sometimes and refresh yourself. For the most part, you just need to take some time to stop.