Improving Your Emotional Health

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:53 pm

Here is an article that I found and copied from and article entitled "Improving Your Emotional Health!"

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What is mental health or emotional health?

Mental or emotional health refers to your overall psychological well-being. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties.

Good mental health isn't just the absence of mental health problems. Being mentally or emotionally healthy is much more than being free of depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues. Rather than the absence of mental illness, mental and emotional health refers to the presence of positive personal and interpersonal characteristics.
People who are mentally and emotionally healthy have:

* A sense of contentment.
* A zest for living and the ability to laugh and have fun.
* The ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity.
* A sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their relationships.
* The flexibility to learn new things and adapt to change.
* The ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships.

These positive characteristics of mental and emotional health allow you to participate in life to the fullest extent possible through productive, meaningful activities and strong relationships. These positive characteristics also help you cope when faced with life's challenges and stresses.
The role of resilience in mental and emotional health

Being emotionally and mentally healthy doesn’t mean never going through bad times or experiencing emotional problems. We all go through disappointments, loss, and change. And while these are normal parts of life, they can still cause sadness, anxiety, and stress.

The difference is that people with good emotional health have an ability to bounce back from adversity, trauma, and stress. This ability is called resilience. People who are emotionally and mentally healthy have the tools for coping with difficult situations and maintaining a positive outlook. They remain focused, flexible, and creative in bad times as well as good.

One of the key factors in resilience is the ability to balance your emotions. The capacity to recognize your emotions and express them appropriately helps you avoid getting stuck in negative mood states. Another key factor is having a strong support network. Having trusted people you can turn to for encouragement and support will boost your resilience in tough times.
Building your resilience

Resilience involves maintaining flexibility and balance in your life as you deal with stressful circumstances and traumatic events. This happens in several ways, including:

* Letting yourself experience strong emotions, and also realizing how to damper down intense emotions in order to continue functioning.
* Stepping forward with energy and focus to take action in order to meet demands and solve problems.
* Spending time with friends and loved ones to nurture yourself and gain support and encouragement.
* Trusting others, and trusting yourself.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:21 am

Great article. It is very insightful. I can definately see how this relates to me in my personal life and what I am lacking, and what I need to strive for.

Have a good one. Tee

hopehound · Post by **hopehound** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:46 am

Tee...You are soooo sweet!!! You always respond to these postings!!! My mission in life is to help others who are struggling, because I have been there, and done that. I know how painful and tortuous these negative feelings and thoughts can be!!!!

May God Bless You Tee...You are one of a kind, in a great way!!!!

EMMAtophobia · Post by **EMMAtophobia** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:57 pm

Great Article.. you are a positive light . . God Bless!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:57 pm

NYC...Thanks for the compliment!!! That was a very nice thing to say!!! God Bless...