4 Surprising Things that Effect Mental Health

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Or Stuck in your negative emotions?

I’ve been counseling clients suffering from depression and anxiety for many years now. I am grateful for the opportunity to be present with individuals in their pain and help them work through hard things to find hope and healing. I am grateful for the many people who have trusted me with their stories. Here are 4 things that you might not realize are effecting your mental health:

1. Relationships can affect every area of our lives.

Relationships are often part of why a person comes to counseling. Many are struggling in their marriage or in relationship with someone that means a lot to them, like a parent or close friend. When our relationships are not healthy, it is often an indication that other areas of our life need some reflection and changing. It is nearly impossible to have healthy relationships with others when you do not have a healthy relationship with yourself. Being able to share what you need, what hurts you and even what you enjoy can be difficult for some and leads to unsatisfying relationships. Being able to allow yourself to really hear and take time to understand the other person is also vital in a healthy relationship. Sometimes past hurts from that person or another person, can cloud the way you interpret a conversation or interaction. Looking at the relationship and trying to be honest with yourself about what is going on is important. Sometimes is takes someone outside the relationship to help with this.

2. The health of your body has significant impact on the health of your emotions.

I have frequently suggested that my clients begin to exercise, because there is so much research that shows this can increase positive mood and emotions. Exercise is good for our bodies and our minds.

In my personal life I have also been very interested in nutrition and fueling my body with things that cause it to function well. By no means am I perfect, but the science around how the food we eat affects us is so interesting to me. I began to understand that nutrition also effects our mental health. I listened to podcasts, took classes and read books about how connected our gut and our brain really are. Did you know that many scientists call the gut, “the second brain”? This amazes me. No wonder many people get an upset stomach when they are worried or sad! Not only do our emotions affect our gut, what we eat or don’t eat can also effect our emotions! Mind blown!

As I’ve grown in my knowledge and understanding of how nutrition can so greatly affect all areas of our lives, including mental health, I began sharing what I was learning with my clients. Many have reported changes in how they feel as a result of fueling their bodies with healthy foods and supplements, rather than junk.

3. Faith has an impact on your mental health. It can be positive or negative.

As a Christian, I have always incorporated faith and the Bible into sessions with people who request it, because it is such an important part of their lives. Trusting in the God of the universe, the way he created us and how he calls us to live, can be a huge part in learning to change behavior and heal. However, faith that teaches false ideas can have very negative results. Many are manipulated and hurt by religious views that are not healthy and not from the Bible. If faith is important to you, we can explore how it has shaped you and areas that you may want to grow in. Many clients choose to work on improving their relationship with God and their overall health.

4. People can struggle with mental health, even if they have a lot of healthy things in their lives.

If you are suffering from depression and you are learning to think in new ways, choosing to have healthier boundaries in your relationships and seeking God for help, but are still not feeling better…it’s possible that your brain doesn’t have the right things to create the hormones that make the “happy feelings” This is where changing your nutrition can make an impact.

Maybe you are someone who is super healthy. You exercise every day, eat well and take a multi vitamin along with a few other essentials. You have growing, supportive relationships and feel good about where you are in your relationship with God, but you still have debilitating anxiety. This is where focusing on your mind is likely what you need. Working on thought patterns or doing neurofeedback could bring the relief you are hoping for.

For many people, there are several areas that they want to address. Most of us don’t have life all figured out. We will walk together through your struggles and find ways to improve your mood.

I am convinced that focusing on the whole person; including Mind, Body, Faith and Relationships, will result in people living the lives that God created them for. As we work together, we will focus on the areas that you want to improve. You will have support in making decisions that are best for your life and in reaching the goals you set.

I would love to work with you. Please reach out to begin growing and changing. (559) 238-7464 or tanja@tanjafridolfs.com