Mental health is something that many of us struggle with in one way or another, on a daily basis. While traditional approaches to managing mental health conditions are important and often life-saving, they can also feel limited or ineffective in helping us make deeper connections with our true selves and the world around us. Holistic approaches to mental health, such as integrating mind, body, and spirit, offer an alternative to traditional treatments, allowing us to explore the complexity of our emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness.
1. Exploring the Benefits of Holistic Mental Health
Holistic mental health is gaining attention as an important pillar of a person’s overall wellbeing. Here we explore the various benefits of regarding mental health in this unique and dedicated framework.
- Develop Self-Awareness – A foundational aspect of holistic mental health is the ability to understand and articulate one’s own feelings, and recognize the influences of various life elements, such as physical, spiritual and emotional. Developing greater self-awareness can help identify stress triggers and create better tools for managing them.
- Create Resilience – Resilience is an invaluable asset in life, as bouncing back from difficult situations is part and parcel of any emotional journey. By responding to disconcerting events with improved neural pathways in the brain, holistic mental health strives to equip individuals with the durability and flexibility to physically and mentally adjust to diverse environments.
- Create Wholeness – Holistic mental health strives to unlock the individual’s full potential and tap into the vast resources that comprise the body, mind and spirit. Paying attention to small changes around you can give a deeper appreciation for life while creating a greater sense of wholeness.
Holistic mental health puts the emphasis on understanding yourself holistically; to uncover deeper potential and to cultivate greater self-compassion. It goes beyond the recognition of mental issues and delves into the importance of understanding our larger context and our place in it.
2. Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Health Connected
It’s no surprise that our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing are interlinked. Our physical health impacts our emotional state, and our emotional health impacts our spiritual outlook. When our overall wellbeing is in balance, opportunities for growth and self-actualization become available. Below, we explore how our physical, emotional, and spiritual health come together to create a life of wellness.
- Physical Health – Healthy living had a profound influence on our overall wellbeing. Eating nutritiously, exercising, and getting enough rest are all important factors in maintaining physical health. Physical ailments and conditions can influence our ability to carry out daily activities and lower our resilience to stress.
- Emotional Health – Our emotions influence how we express ourselves and how we interact with the world. Unhealthy emotions can lead to low self-esteem and depression, leading to poor decisions and toxic habits. Having healthy emotional boundaries and understanding our emotional triggers can help us maintain balance in our lives.
- Spiritual Health – Our spiritual health influences how we develop spiritual understanding and take action to cultivate our own spirituality. It helps us recognize the interconnectedness of all beings, allowing us to develop a sense of purpose and drive, and to find joy in life.
Just as our physical wellbeing affects our emotional health, our emotional health affects our spiritual wellbeing. When we’re not physically well, we can feel emotionally drained, and vice versa. The key is to recognize when we’re out of balance and strive for harmony in our lives. By taking a holistic approach to wellness, we can maintain a healthy balance of physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
3. Achieving Wellbeing through Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a great way to achieve wellbeing in our lives – it allows us to live in the present moment without judgment or reactivity. Through a consistent mindfulness practice, we can learn to be more intentional with our thoughts and how we interact with ourselves and the world.
Here are 3 ways to begin or deepen your mindfulness practice:
- Keep a journal and write down your thoughts and feelings. Notice your mind’s patterns and gently observe any patterns of thought that may be hurting your wellbeing.
- Meditate regularly. This could be part of a guided practice recording, formal practice or simply observing your breath for 10 minutes and noticing any sensations or emotions that come up without judgment.
- Get out in nature and connect to your senses. Observe the things around you that make you happy, and pay attention to any quiet voice inside you that needs to be heard.
When we practice mindfulness, we create a sense of inner calm and space to just be without trying to fix or change anything. Over time, we become more connected to ourselves and learn how to be more present with our lives, allowing us to make intentional choices and cultivate more wellbeing.
4. Understanding Holistic Mental Health Treatments
It’s important to comprehend the concept of holistic mental health treatments if you are exploring your own mental health choices. Holistic psychotherapy is based on the notion that a person’s mind, body, spirit, and emotions are interconnected and overall health and wellness are integral in living a fulfilling life.
Holistic approaches to mental health seek to provide a whole-person care strategy. This type of treatment nurses the mind and soul by utilizing therapy, meditation techniques, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes instead of simply introducing medicine to treat symptoms. Some of these approaches may include:
- Mindfulness Practices: Mindfulness helps patients become aware of their mental and emotional states. Practicing acceptance and self-love allows people to observe, embrace, and strive to greater contentment in their lives.
- Nutritional Changes: Eating healthier helps to reduce the amount of stress placed on the body’s systems. Eating a nourishing, balanced diet can support physical and mental health, energy levels, and overall wellbeing.
- Exercises: Training the body to be healthy is just as important as training the mind. Exercise can help decrease stress levels, release endorphins, and increase energy levels.
- Breathing Exercises: Regularly practicing deep breathing can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, and also helps to infuse oxygen into the body, leaving it feeling revitalized and rejuvenated.
5. Adopting a Holistic Lifestyle for Long-term Mental Wellness
Leading a healthy lifestyle is much more than focusing on the physical. Mental wellbeing is just as, if not more, important. But mental wellbeing doesn’t always mean that we must go to a therapist or take medication. We can nurture our mental wellbeing by developing healthy habits, or “adopting a holistic lifestyle,” as it’s called. Here are five things you can do to take your mental wellbeing into your own hands:
- Get enough quality sleep. Aim for seven or more hours of high-quality sleep every night. Quality sleep helps regulate cortisol levels, your stress hormone.
- Eat a healthy diet. Eating wholesome foods helps your body and mind get the nutrients it needs for balance and clarity. Include plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains in your meals.
- Exercise regularly.Exercise is one of the most effective methods for improving mental wellbeing. Find a physical activity you feel comfortable with and make it part of your weekly routine.
- Spend time outdoors. Being in nature, even for a few minutes, can lift your spirits. If you can, take a walk through a park, sit by a lake, or even just open the windows to get some fresh air.
- Find joy and meaning in your life. Everyone has something that brings them joy. Whether it is cooking, drawing, gardening, or simply strolling through a museum, explore activities that bring you happiness and satisfaction.
Adopting a holistic lifestyle is the foundation of long-term mental wellbeing. Not only will it help with symptom management and reduction, it can also lead to a happier and healthier life overall. So, consider making the above practices part of your daily routine, and enjoy the benefits beyond your mental health.
6. Practicing a Balanced Approach to Mental Health
The mental health journey is a long and winding road, but one that can be achieved one step at a time. Taking a balanced approach to mental health allows you to focus on each portion of the journey to provide you with the strength you need. Here are 6 tips for :
- Prioritize Self-Care: While striving to reach a healthy mental state, it is important to take care of your body and your mind. Commit to a schedule of regular exercise, quality sleep and healthy eating to help support your mental health journey.
- Add Structure: Add structure and routine into your day. This helps establish order which can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Set daily goals for yourself and incorporate activities that bring enjoyment into your day.
- Examine Unhelpful Thought Patterns: Identify thinking patterns or thought habits that are blocking success. Acknowledge their existence and commit to working on thought replacing techniques. Working with a professional can really help identify and address these areas.
- Be Kind to Yourself: Be gentle with yourself and focus on self-acceptance and appreciation. Take the time to recognize any successes, no matter the size. Ultimately, focus on positive thinking and positive experiences.
- Explore Nature: Natural spaces are incredibly calming and can provide a sense of renewal. Incorporate some outdoor time into your day to help re-focus and center yourself.
- Forge Supportive Relationships: Build a strong social network by connecting with friends and family. Seek out supportive people who can help listen to your thoughts, cheer you on and positively encourage you.
The mental health journey is ultimately a personal one, but one with a great deal of support from a variety of resources. Incorporating these tips into your daily activities will help bring balance to your mental health on a holistic journey.
Mental health is often a complex and multi-faceted issue, with many treatment methods available to help individuals in their journey towards wellbeing. By exploring Eastern philosophy-based treatments alongside Western mental health practices, people can begin to heal and reconnect with their mind, body, and spirit. Integrating these holistic approaches to mental health into our lives can help to foster balance, harmony, and a path to true inner peace.
