When you are disabled, often non-disabled people think you are depressed because it is often believed that all disabled people are sad and desperate for a cure. Disabled people are more likely to get depressed than non-disabled people, but not everyone struggles with mental illness, and only some people do. Therapy can help some people struggling with depression improve their mental health, but it is not always an option, and necessary because you can’t improve your mental health without therapy. Mental health should be taken as seriously as your physical health because you can’t be happy by neglecting your mental health, but often it is not as much of a priority. If you have severe depression and can barely get out of bed to brush your teeth, it is likely you have a mental illness and need professional help. Sometimes you don’t need therapy and are struggling with your mental health because you have built some bad habits that are harming your mental health without realizing it. What habits do you need to break for better mental health? In this post, I am going to talk about a few things you didn’t realize could be harming your mental health.
Not sleeping enough- When you have chronic pain, sometimes it can be difficult to fall and stay asleep because pain often keeps you up at all hours of the night. Most people will prioritize exercise because they want to look good, but when it comes to sleep, it often is not as much of a priority. Sleep is so important for your mental health because your brain needs rest, and when you don’t sleep enough, it disrupts your ability to process emotions. You are significantly more likely to struggle with anxiety or depression when you don’t get enough sleep. If I am not sleeping well, I am not as motivated to do things and feel sadder than I would if I slept enough. Sleep can be difficult for people with a diagnosed mental illness, but it is so important that you try to get enough sleep for better mental health.
Too much social media- Social media is a great place for disabled people to connect with others who truly understand what it’s like to be disabled, and not everything about social media is negative. It is so easy to start comparing yourself on social media because it can be toxic. As a disabled blogger, I am on social media more than the average person because I have to create content consistently in order to grow my brand. Most people online are nice, but the more content you put online, the more likely you are to run into a troll or two. Some people can choose to not use social media, but I don’t have that choice because I use it to grow my blog, but I do try to take social media breaks. It is so important to take social media breaks because there are so many negative people online, which can worsen your mental health.
Hanging around toxic people- If you want to improve your mental health, it is so important that you hang around the right kinds of people because if you are hanging around a bunch of negative people, you are going to have more insecurities and aren’t going to feel great about yourself. Most people want to have a ton of friends, but sometimes it’s better to have fewer, more supportive friends than more toxic ones. I used to have toxic friends because I wanted more people to talk to, and during those years, my mental health was the worst it has ever been. It wasn’t until I stopped hanging out with these toxic friends that my mental health improved. If you have toxic family members, you might not be able to completely cut them out of your life but them out of your life but you can limit the time you spend with them.
Not leaving your home- When you are disabled, sometimes it can be difficult to leave your home because a lot of disabled people are not able to drive and can’t leave their homes. Sitting in your house all day and not leaving can cause depression because it’s boring to sit inside all day, and you aren’t getting any sunlight. You don’t have to get in your car and go somewhere, but if you can walk outside and get some fresh air, please do, because it’s so good for your mental health.
Not exercising enough- Regular exercise is not only good for your physical health, but it can also support your mental health because when you don’t move enough, you are significantly more likely to struggle with anxiety or depression. Some disabled people are not able to exercise and can’t use fitness to improve their mental health, but a vast majority of people can and choose not to. If you can exercise, please do because exercise gives you energy and increases your endorphins, making you feel happier. Exercise is so important for your mental health because it improves your confidence, and I also feel better when I am exercising consistently and get a little depressed when I am not exercising regularly. You don’t have to do a high-intensity workout routine; even a light walk outside can benefit your mental health.
Negative self-talk- We live in a world surrounded by diet culture that is obsessed with shrinking their bodies as small as possible. People who don’t have the body that they think they should have sometimes are very hard on themselves and start talking about themselves negatively. It is so important that we try to stop the negative self-talk because it is affecting the way you feel about yourself and harming your mental health. You wouldn’t call your friend ugly, so why are you saying that about yourself? I try not to say anything about myself that I would never say to a friend, because you will never have confidence if you are always bringing yourself down.
Neglecting nutrition- If you exercise a lot, nutrition is so important for reaching your fitness goals, but a healthy diet is not only for people who exercise. A healthy diet not only supports your physical health, but it also supports your mental health because when you eat healthy, you will feel better and won’t be as depressed.
When you’re struggling with your mental health, it can be difficult to get out of bed and do something. People who have a diagnosed mental illness may have a more difficult time completing basic tasks than someone who doesn’t have a mental illness. On a bad mental health day, getting out of bed is probably going to be the last thing you want to do, but sometimes getting up and going for a walk is what you need to do. Everyone has bad mental health days, and even people without a mental illness can be doing something to better their mental health because it’s something you should always be working on. You can improve your mental health without therapy because sometimes your depression is triggered by some of the bad habits you have developed. Pay attention to your daily habits, and if you notice something is causing you to become sadder, it might be a good idea to break that habit. What things have you done that have harmed your mental health? If you liked this post, please leave a comment below and share it with your friends.
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