The Essential Role of Self-Care
Written by Amanda E. Lampong
Published on November 26, 2023
Emotional, psychological and social well-being are all aspects of mental health. It influences our decisions, emotions, behaviours, and interpersonal relationships. Mental health is crucial to your general well-being and standard of living. Mental illness can have an impact on your emotions, thoughts, and behaviour. There are many types of mental illness, such as:
- Mood disorders (depression or bipolar disorder)
- Anxiety disorders
- Personality disorders
- Psychotic disorders (schizophrenia)
- Eating disorders
- Trauma-related disorders (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Substance abuse disorders
If you have a mental illness, self-care can help support your treatment and rehabilitation as well as help you maintain your mental health. The word “self-care” describes routines and actions we may do to lower stress and improve and preserve our immediate and long-term health and well-being. Self-care activities can include mental and spiritual pursuits like reading a book or practicing mindfulness, as well as social and spiritual activities like going to lunch with friends or praying. They can also include physical pursuits like working out and eating healthily.
Self-care has many positive effects on one’s mental health and can definitely help to reduce the severity of symptoms in disorders like depression and anxiety. Let’s explore the value of self-care and how it might improve mental health.
1. Help in Prioritizing and Setting Boundaries
People become more self-aware when they engage in self-care practices. They can more clearly identify their needs, boundaries, and priorities as a result of their increased self-awareness. They also are able to establish boundaries in accordance with their beliefs and objectives by making wise selections about what activities fit them. Prioritizing yourself will guarantee that you experience less stress in general and will result in a high degree of respect and self-esteem that can only come from making time for yourself. Choosing an activity that makes you feel happy and rejuvenated on purpose is what counts.
2. Rejuvenate the Mind and Body
Taking care of yourself is a healing process that revitalizes the body and mind. Maintaining and enhancing one’s mental and emotional well-being is greatly dependent on self-care. You may lower your levels of stress, anxiety, and depression by taking care of yourself. This will increase your general sense of well-being and emotional stability. Self-care also strengthens your immune system, which keeps you healthy and more capable of overcoming obstacles in life.
3. Creates a Positive Self-Relationship
One of the very first relationships we will ever have is with ourselves, how we treat and think about ourselves. Because it has the potential to affect all of our other relationships, this one is really crucial. If you want to develop a positive relationship with yourself, it’s crucial to keep your mental health in check. Making the time to go to therapy is a great method to have a great relationship with yourself since it allows you to let go of everything that has been holding you back. In the end, you’ll have the best relationship you can have with yourself by having a conversation about it with a qualified professional and getting their point of view.
In summary, self-care is crucial to preserving mental wellness. We can manage stress, anxiety, and depression better and live happier, healthier lives when we include it into our everyday routines. So, Keep in mind that taking care of yourself is a need, not a luxury.
REFERENCES
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d.). Caring for Your Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health#:~:text=a%20mental%20illness.-,About%20Self%2DCare,illness%2C%20and%20increase%20your%20energy.
- (n.d.). Types, Causes and Diagnosis of Mental Health Issues. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-illness
- University at Buffalo School of Social Work. (2023, January 1). Introduction to Self-Care. https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/resources/self-care-starter-kit/introduction-to-self-care.html#:~:text=Self%2Dcare%20refers%20to%20activities,term%20health%20and%20well%2Dbeing.
- The University of Toledo (n.d.). Self-Care. https://www.utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/counseling/selfhelp/copingskills/selfcare.html#:~:text=What%20is%20Self%2DCare%3F,catching%20lunch%20with%20a%20friend.
- Messina, M. (2023, November 3). The Importance of Self Care. Messina & Associates. https://drmessina.com/the-importance-of-self-care/
- Canal, M. (2023, April 5). The Importance of Self-Care: Nurturing Your Mind, Body, and Soul for a Balanced Life. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-self-care-nurturing-your-mind-body-soul-balanced-canal
- Marie, S. (2022, October 14). How to Build a Healthy Relationship with Yourself Every Day. Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/lib/how-to-build-a-healthy-relationship-with-yourself-every-day
