Women’s mental health condition is often associated with depression, dementia, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. However, mental health goes beyond the presence or absence of a few diseases or disorders. It encompasses the overall wellbeing, cognitive health, emotional equilibrium, and social relationships of women.

So, there are three components of women’s mental health: psychological, emotional, and cognitive.

• Psychological refers to the ability to acclimate to life changes such as switching a job, a break-up or a divorce, children leaving home, death of a loved one, etc. One must be capable of accepting these events as part of life, distinguishing between the negatives and positives of these life-changing events, and moving on with life.
• Emotional refers to how we think and what we feel while coping with life events. Good emotional health helps determine whether emotions control you or you control your emotions. For example, during stressful situations, whether you maintain composure or end up lashing out at others is indicative of your emotional health.
• Cognitive refers to ideation, information processing and retention, and logical thinking, especially during trying times.

What are the signs of mental health issues?

The following warning signs may indicate you need to look for ways to improve mental health.

• Irregular sleep pattern
• Eating too much or too little
• Low or no energy
• Lack of interest in meeting people and usual activities
• Feeling that everything is meaningless
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Smoking, drinking, or taking drugs habitually
• Irritable mood
• Deteriorating relationship with family, friends or co-workers
• Severe mood swings that affect social relations
• Persistent thoughts and memories (often unpleasant)
• Thinking of harming yourself or others
• Hallucination
• A persistent sense of drudgery while performing daily tasks
• Being forgetful, confused, upset, angry, overwhelmed or scared more

How to improve mental health?

1. Take care of your physical health

Your physical and mental health are correlated. Taking care of your physical health helps improve your mental health. Being physically active, getting enough sleep, and healthy eating are ways to feel better physically, and in turn, mentally. If you suffer from physical ailments that affect your mental health, seek proper care.

2. Be mindful

Slowing down, breathing, and observing your thoughts and feelings help you become self-aware. It is a prerequisite to identifying mental health issues and seeking ways to get better. Meditation is one of the most effective ways to stop an overspeeding train of thoughts occupying your mind. Besides, it also helps reduce stress and promotes good mental health. Start with 10 minutes a day and gradually increase the duration for better results. You may also track your mood every day using Ginger-U’s app.

3. Nurture your relationships

Research has shown that people with strong social connections have better mental health. The benefits include lower rates of depression and anxiety, empathy, higher self-esteem, and more support during a crisis. So, spend quality time with your family and friends. If you struggle to find loving and healthy relationships, you may join a hobby class or workshops to meet new people. If you suffer from conditions like social anxiety, consult a therapist to work on ways to open up to new people.

Your mental health depends on your physical health, as well as your emotional and cognitive health. Paying attention to improving them is a key step to improving your well-being.