#mentalhealth – Be Well Solutions

Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

A change in seasons can also bring a change in mood and mental health. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can occur at any change of season, but it is most common in the fall and winter months. Learning what SAD is, how to recognize it, and best practices for treating it can help you or a loved one manage mental health changes throughout the year. What is SAD? According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA)1, “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to a lack of sunlight or changes in seasons.” Many of us experience a slight change in mood or the ‘winter blues’ when the weather is dreary, we are stuck indoors for long periods, or there is a lack of sunlight. However, SAD is a form of depression that can negatively affect [...]

Work-Life Balance and Your Health: 8 Tips on How to Avoid Burnout

Many of us are juggling heavy workloads each day. It can often feel like responsibilities between work and home continuously pile on with no end in sight. Over time, these demands can leave us feeling burnt out. Burnout can affect us physically, emotionally, and mentally. It brings feelings of extreme exhaustion, which are typically the results of prolonged or chronic stress. Here are eight tips to recognize and avoid the road to burnout. Recognize the Warning Signs Stress affects each of us differently. Perhaps during times of stress, you notice muscle tension or headaches. You may experience changes in appetite, mood, or sleep patterns. These are personal warning signs that alert you to how stress is impacting you physically, emotionally, or mentally. Recognizing individual warning signs can help you manage stressful situations early and healthily. Set Boundaries Know your physical [...]

The Power of Gratitude: Turning Stress into Positivity

Stress can quickly accumulate each day, making it difficult to maintain positive thoughts and feelings. Practicing gratitude is a proven way to find calm amid tension and turn negativity into a more positive perspective. Choosing a gracious attitude can be a beneficial tool for managing stress. Consider the following tips to harness the power of gratitude and turn your stress into positivity. Reflect Press pause on the everyday hustle and bustle, and take a moment to reflect on the good things in your life. Even during the most challenging times, there is always something to be thankful for. Consider starting a gratitude journal where you write down people, accomplishments, memories, pets, or other objects you are grateful to have in your life. The things you reflect on could be large or small, complex or simplistic. Shifting our focus to the [...]

Fresh Air Fix: 5 Simple Outdoor Activities to Relieve Stress

As our lives become more fast-paced and intertwined with technology, our time spent outdoors decreases while our stress levels increase. Research has shown that intentionally getting outside among nature can positively impact our health and how we manage stress. According to the American Psychological Association1, “spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health and emotional well-being.” Try these five simple outdoor activities for a mental break and better stress management. Hike or Walk Take a short walk outside on your lunch break or go for a longer hike at a nearby park on the weekend. Regardless of the distance, walking is beneficial for enjoying nature and increasing your physical activity. Both approaches can have a significant impact on managing your daily stress. Consider skipping the headphones and allow yourself to practice being [...]

Tips for Handling Stressors that are Beyond Your Control

Stressful situations occur every day. Some conditions are within our control and can be alleviated or changed, while others lie beyond our control. We cannot regulate things like traffic, the behavior of others, or environmental factors, but they can still bring worry, anxiety, and frustration. Learning to accept and respond to situations you cannot control will bring healthy stress management and resiliency for the future. Identify and Acknowledge Your Stress Managing stress begins with identifying and acknowledging our stressors. As our body reacts to stressful situations, we can’t brush them under the rug and wait for them to disappear. Learning to cope and carry on healthily can help you adapt during challenging times. Pay attention to your warning signs. While you might not always notice stressors piling on, you are more likely to see changes in your behavior, sleep, emotions, [...]

How to Cope with Being a Caregiver

Caregiving is one of the most rewarding things we can do for loved ones. However, it can also lead to feeling overwhelmed, stressed, lonely, and exhausted. According to the Mayo Clinic1, “1 in 3 adults in the United States is an informal or family caregiver.” There’s a good chance that you or someone you know is currently a caregiver. Learning how to cope with the challenges of this role can ensure a healthier experience for everyone involved. Signs of Caregiver Stress Knowing and recognizing the signs of caregiver stress is the first step in healthy coping. These signs can present as physical, mental, or emotional symptoms. Physical signs include fatigue, problems sleeping, sudden changes in weight, headaches, and body aches. It can also include misusing alcohol, medication, or drugs. Mental and emotional signs include increased feelings of anxiety, worry, sadness, [...]

Tags: #mentalhealth, #support, burnout, caregiverstress, Caregivingtips, community, copingstrategies, familycaregiving, health, help, self-care, wellness|

Managing Mental Health During Chronic Illness

Chronic illness can be challenging to manage because of how it impacts nearly every aspect of our lives. Between navigating medical care, ensuring basic needs are met, and completing daily tasks, it can take a toll on our mental health and quality of life. A chronic illness differs from an acute illness, such as the flu, because a full recovery may not be possible. Learning to cope with the illness becomes part of everyday life. Understanding how to manage your mental health during chronic illness can help you cope more healthily and bring more enjoyment back into your life. Manage Stress Chronic illness can wear on us physically, mentally, and emotionally. The challenges it brings to daily life can trigger increased feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, frustration, and more. Unmanaged stress can negatively affect mental health as well as symptoms [...]

Tags: #mentalhealth, ChronicIllnessManagement, CopingwithChronicIllness, health, MentalResilience, MindfulnessandStressRelief, SelfcareforChronicIllness, StressManagement, wellness|

The Science of Stress: Understanding Its Effects on the Mind and Body

Stress is something we often experience daily. Anytime we face a stressful situation, the body automatically prepares to react. It releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that act to increase our heart rate and breathing, contract muscles, and elevate blood sugar for quick energy. These functions are necessary to help us respond in an emergency. However, prolonged and unmanaged stress can become chronic and negatively affect both mind and body. Stress and the Body Chronic stress affects every system of the body. Tense muscles can lead to soreness, neck and back pain, headaches, and migraines. Consistently elevated stress hormone levels increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. It can trigger or exacerbate respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions. Long-term stress can also suppress immune system function and cause fertility and reproduction complications. Chronic stress even affects the body [...]

Tags: #mentalhealth, #stressrelief, ChronicStress, EffectsofStress, EmotionalWell-being, HealthyHabits, HealthyLifestyle, MentalResilience, mindfulness, PhysicalHealth, SocialSupport, StressandAnxiety, StressAwareness, StressManagement|

Hybrid Work and Wellness: Balancing Health in a Remote Work Environment

The shift towards hybrid work models, where employees split their time between working remotely and in the office, has become increasingly prevalent. This transition offers numerous benefits, such as greater flexibility and reduced commuting time and employee satisfaction, but it also presents unique challenges for maintaining wellness. Balancing health in a remote work environment requires strategies to ensure both physical and mental well-being. We’re looking at ways you can navigate this new era. Establish a Routine Creating a consistent daily routine can help maintain a clear boundary between work and personal life. Start your day at the same time, take regular breaks, and set a definitive end to your workday. This structure can prevent work from spilling over into your personal time and help you stay organized. Designate a Workspace Having a specific area in your home dedicated to work [...]

Tags: #mentalhealth, health, HybridWorkWellness, RemoteWorkBalance, RoutineForSuccess, SetBoundaries, TakeTimeOff, TechProductivity, wellness, WellnessStrategies, WorkFromHomeTips, WorkLifeBalance|

Stress Less: Response vs. Reaction

Stressful situations arise often, but they are not always in our control. However, the way we respond or react in these situations is something we can control. While these two words may sound similar, they are two very different approaches to managing stress. Let’s explore how your approach can make all the difference in daily stress management. It’s Natural to React Our bodies naturally react whenever they encounter a stressful situation. Once our brain recognizes a real or perceived threat, it tells our automatic nervous system (ANS) that it is time to act. The ANS first signals our sympathetic nervous system by increasing stress hormone production and initiating our flight or fight reaction. This reaction causes quick changes in bodily function, such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, elevated blood pressure, contracted muscles, and digestive changes. When the stressor passes, [...]

Tags: #mentalhealth, #Reaction, #Response, #StressLess, health, mindfulness, stress, wellness|