World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is on October 10th and here at Floatworks, we believe in highlighting its importance. Mental health awareness is becoming increasingly significant as the prevalence of mental health disorders continues to rise, especially due to the knock-on effects of the pandemic.
According to the Mental Health Organisation:
- Mental health problems are one of the main causes of the overall disease burden worldwide.
- Mental health and behavioural problems (e.g. depression, anxiety and drug use) are reported to be the primary drivers of disability worldwide, causing over 40 million years of disability in 20 to 29-year-olds.
- Major depression is thought to be the second leading cause of disability worldwide and a major contributor to the burden of suicide and ischemic heart disease.
- It is estimated that 1 in 6 people in the past week experienced a common mental health problem.
3 ways to look after your mental health:
As the statistics suggest, mental health problems appear to be akin to pandemic status, and unfortunately anyone can fall victim. Although there are no known cures for mental health disorders, here are a few ways that may help to manage symptoms:
1. Express How You Feel
Oftentimes people with mental health struggles find it difficult to communicate how they are really feeling, usually due to feelings of shame or embarrassment. Remember that everyone has their struggles and that you are not alone. Many people find that others have felt similarly at some stage in their lives after opening up to them. However, some people feel like they may not have anyone to talk to in the first place. In which case, journaling may be a good temporary solution. Simply purging your thoughts onto a page can be a great way to release repressed emotions. Additionally, transmuting darker thoughts and emotions creatively into poems, songs and artistic outlets can be a great way of turning your pain into purpose.
2. Eat Well and Exercise
It’s no secret that there’s a strong link between mind and body, especially between mental health and gut health. Recent studies show that: “dysbiosis and inflammation of the gut have been linked to causing several mental illnesses including anxiety and depression.”* What you feed your body also feeds your mind. Therefore, it’s important to opt for nutrient dense, anti-inflammatory whole foods as much as possible, and try to avoid processed food, refined sugar and excess caffeine and alcohol consumption. Also, get your body moving. Exercise is shown to produce feel good chemicals such as endorphins and dopamine that boost your mood and regulate your nervous system.
3. Give Floating a Try
Floating therapy is the practice of lying in a flotation tank and relaxing as your body is supported by Epsom salt water. An hour of floating is known to lower levels of cortisol and other stress-related neuro-chemicals, such as norepinephrine, adrenaline and ACTH, that impact mental health. It also reduces activity in the amygdala (the area of the brain which is overactive when we’re stressed or anxious). Furthermore, studies show that floating reduces: anxiety, negative emotions and the perception of pain, improves sleep, increases optimism and mindfulness and decreases depression.
Why not try floating yourself?
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