How's your mental wellness? This is an important question because your physical health depends on your mood and mental/emotional function. At Biggers Family Medicine in Brandon, FL, Dr. Joel Biggers and Dr. Elizabeth Biggers want their patients to take care of their mental health. These osteopathic physicians can help you do just that.
Take good care
Here are some practical ways to check on your mental health and actually improve it. You'll feel better, work better and interact well with your family and friends. The team at Biggers Family Medicine in Brandon, FL, will help you.
Mental health impacts every stage of your life--childhood through your senior years, says the US Department of Health and Human Services. So, please attend to it.
1. Avoid isolation. Reach out to someone you love and trust. Develop your friendships.
2. Enjoy a hobby. If you don't have one, start one. You build new neuro-pathways in your brain and give yourself something to look forward to and enjoy.
3. Exercise. Healthline says routine exercise raises the levels of serotonin in your brain. This neurotransmitter increases energy, happiness and contentment.
4. Help others. Service brings you out of your own world and set of worries and refocuses your attention.
5. Pray. Develop your spirituality.
6. Get adequate rest--eight to nine hours a night. Include a brief power nap during the day as time allows.
7. Speak to a professional therapist who can help you identify areas of stress or diagnoses such as depression or anxiety. Medication helps in some cases. Talking it out can be beneficial, too.
Warning signs
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) outlines some signs which indicate you may be struggling with your mental/emotional health. They include:
1. Excessive feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and sadness.
2. Difficulties with memory, concentration and finishing routine tasks
3. Low energy, fatigue and problems with sleeping
4. Poor sex drive
5. Overeating, lack of appetite and excessive alcohol consumption
6. Anger
7. Thoughts of self-harm
8. Avoiding social interaction
9. Poor work or school performance
10. Reduced empathy with others
It's so important
At Biggers Family Medicine, we want to know how you really are. That includes your mental function and well-being. So, call our office in Brandon, FL, for a talk with Dr. Joel Biggers or Dr. Elizabeth Biggers. They'll listen, and they can help. Phone us at (813) 655-4646.