Even if we are eating well, exercising, getting enough rest,and avoiding substance abuse, we still need to consider our mental healthneeds. This is one aspect of healthy living that is often ignored moremisunderstood.
We can touch our bodies and see and feel when something iswrong with them. When we know how they work, we can even imagine what is goingon inside them. However, our emotions, thoughts and beliefs - the things thatshape our mental thoughts and beliefs – are more difficult to pin down. Inaddition, because some mentally ill people are unpredictable and dangerous, we areafraid of people are mentally ill. It seems safer to shut them away and toforget about them. The last thing we want to consider is that we too might beat risk of mental illness. However, mental health and mental illness are partof everyday life.
We need the love of our parents or a stable, availablecaregiver to grow into healthy human beings. Love teaches us to trust and totry new things so that we can acquire new skills for growth. When we are loved,we can also love in return and help others grow. We need our family, friends,and the community to give us support, to tell us that we are okay. Only when wehave support can we grow into happy, healthy, productive adults.
Mental health is not possible without physical health. You needto eat well, be active, and sleep well to enjoy good mental health. You alsoneed to feel loved and worthwhile, and in control of your life. On top of allthis, most women already have problems with confidence and self-esteem because we are not valued as much as men are.Fortunately many of us are loved and supported by our parents, our caregivers and our families. This gives us agood start and helps us deal with difficulties.
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