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What’s Stopping You From Taking Care of You ? :

What’s Stopping You From Taking Care of You ? :. Steps to Protecting and Enhancing Your Mental Health By: Dr. Lesajean McDonald Jennings Licensed Psychologist, Clinical Licensed Specialist in School Psychology Private Practice Houston, Texas www.DrLJennings.com (O) 713-225-2280.

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What’s Stopping You From Taking Care of You ? :

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  1. What’s Stopping You From Taking Care of You? : Steps to Protecting and Enhancing Your Mental Health By: Dr. Lesajean McDonald Jennings Licensed Psychologist, Clinical Licensed Specialist in School Psychology Private Practice Houston, Texas www.DrLJennings.com (O) 713-225-2280

  2. Our Mental Health Also Needs Protection • We need to maintain a regime of mental health protection just as we do regarding physical diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

  3. Take Care of Yourself FIRST • Only you can best care for your needs • Others who depend on you need you to be whole • It is OK to treat yourself well

  4. Pay attention to the environment in which you allow yourself to live • People • Situations • People with strong family or social connections are generally healthier than those who lack a supportive network.  • Practice preferential time management and see your time on earth as precious • Choose to spend time with supportive family members and friends, and in positive situations.

  5. Choose to see the positive sides of all situations. • What we focus on gets bigger!! • Learn ways to cope with negative thoughts • Negative thoughts can be insistent and loud, so make the positive thoughts the louder ones. • Learn to interrupt them and turn them into positives. Don’t try to block them, but don’t let them take over.

  6. Be Honest With Yourself About ALL of your feelings. • Deal with your feelings before they deal with you. • Ignored feelings don’t disappear, they show up in a variety of ways. • Relationships • Physical health • Sleep quality • Coping abilities

  7. Allow yourself to grieve losses and then CHOOSE to move on • Grief is a normal process that should be honored • Losses can appear in a variety of ways • Death • Old job / New job • Life Transitions (i.e. a child leaves for college, moving to a new house, new responsibilities)

  8. Allow yourself to heal from hurts, abuses and other traumas • Get Help When You Need It.    • Seeking help is a sign of strength - not a weakness, and it is important to remember that mental health related treatments are effective.  • People who get appropriate care can recover from mental illness and substance abuse disorders, and lead full, productive lives.

  9. Types of Mental Health Treatment • Individual Therapy / Counseling • Group Therapy / Counseling • Family or Couples Therapy / Counseling • Support Groups • Psychiatric Treatments

  10. Exercise • Exercise has been shown to help decrease depression and anxiety, and improve our moods. • Regular physical activity improves psychological well-being and can reduce depression and anxiety. • There are many physical benefits, which can lead to even more psychological and social benefits!

  11. Good sleep habits are vital • Research indicates strong benefits to the immune system • Sleep makes you smarter! We learn many things during the day but night time is when our brains process the information. Research indicates that those who slept after learning a task, had better recall rates. • Sleep helps you look better!When you’re asleep, the body repairs and regenerates skin, blood and brain cells, as well as muscles • Sleep increases concentrationSleep deprivation can lead to irritability, reduced concentration and a slower reaction time. • Sleep makes you a nicer personNeurotransmitters (brain chemicals) are also regenerated during sleep. A lack of sleep can lead to cranky, aggressive and unsociable behaviors. At the extremes, a long-term lack of sleep can cause disorientation and paranoia.

  12. A Healthy Diet Is Also Important • Research links depression to low intakes of fish, folic acid and omega-3 fatty acids. • Selenium and the amino acid tryptophan are thought to play an important role in the illness. • Deficiencies of essential fats and antioxidant vitamins are also thought to be a contributory factor in schizophrenia.

  13. Good Foods for Mental Health • Leafy vegetables • Seeds and nuts • Fruit • Whole grains • Wheatgerm • Organic eggs • Organic farmed or wild fish, especially fatty fish

  14. Bad Foods for Mental Health • Deep fried junk foods • Refined processed foods • Pesticides • Alcohol • Sugar • Tea and coffee

  15. Practice Proactive Stress Management • Stress is a part of life so practice good coping skills EVERYDAY, not just after or during a stressful time period or event.  • Walking • Playing with your pet • Journal writing • Choose to smile and laugh about life. Research shows that laughter can boost your immune system, ease pain relax your body and reduce stress.

  16. Make Good CHOICES TowardsGOOD MENTAL HEALTH! • Attitude • Social Life • Exercise • Health • Diet

  17. What’s Stopping You From Taking Care of You? : Steps to Protecting and Enhancing Your Mental Health By: Dr. Lesajean McDonald Jennings Licensed Psychologist, Clinical Licensed Specialist in School Psychology Private Practice Houston, Texas www.DrLJennings.com (O) 713-225-2280

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