Daily Stressors That Influence Your Mental Health
Many factors affect a person’s mental health throughout life. Often overlooked are the everyday challenges that are labeled as stress. When these daily stressors exceed one’s resources and coping abilities, they begin to influence one’s mental health.
Below are some of the daily stressors that may be affecting your mental health and how you can navigate them to support your mental well-being.
Loneliness
Loneliness includes feeling alone, disconnected from others, and lacking a sense of belonging. One of the best ways to combat these feelings is to seek connection. While it can be hard to form new and meaningful connections when your mental health is being impacted, research shows that giving back to others is one of the best ways to reconnect with yourself and your community.
One way to enjoy the benefits of giving back is through volunteering. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people, share in the experience of helping others, and find purpose. Another way to give back is through small acts of service that help another person with something that makes their life a little easier. Acts like walking a neighbor’s dog, offering free babysitting for a friend or family member, and helping with a yard or house chore are all ways to practice giving back. By shifting your focus from your own struggles to the needs of others, you can build a new perspective that is positive and reaffirms your value and impact in your community.
Social Media
Recently, researchers have associated online social networking with several psychiatric disorders, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, and low self-esteem. For many, missing out on experiences can create anxiety and depression. So, when you log on and see highlight reels from others on social media, it can lead to making comparisons and feeling left out.
Improving your relationship with social media starts with setting boundaries. Some tips include limiting your social media time by blocking it during specific hours or setting time limits on apps, exploring your phone settings for features that help manage screen time, and determining your purpose and sticking to it before logging on. Once you’ve completed your tasks, sign off to avoid mindless scrolling.
Social Determinants
Social determinants shape the environments where you live, work, learn, and have fun. They include aspects like economic status, education, the condition of your neighborhood, and access to essential resources such as healthcare, green spaces, transportation, and nutritious food.
Because these factors vary from person to person, it’s important to recognize how they could impact your mental health. While there’s no one-size-fits-all fix for them, you can take steps to look after your mental well-being by utilizing community resources, seeking professional help, and advocating for change.
Supporting Your Mental Well-Being
In addition to giving back to others and setting boundaries with social media, one of the best ways to support your mental well-being is by utilizing healthy coping skills. Consider what you currently do when you feel daily stressors. Do you have a drink or try to ignore your feelings? These might make you temporarily feel better, but ultimately, they don’t help in the long run. Take time to see what helps you best manage your feelings in these moments. View our resource on healthy coping skills for some suggestions.
Additionally, having a solid support system can greatly benefit your mental well-being. This support may come from friends, family, online communities, or local gatherings. Look for people who uplift you, lend an ear, and are open to talking about mental health. Therapy and counseling can also offer a nurturing environment for healing and guidance.
At Seven Counties Services, we provide personalized treatment for mental health disorders, including treatment for individuals who need a little extra support because they are experiencing mental health-related symptoms that interfere with their everyday lives. From your first appointment to equipping you with life-long skills to support your mental well-being, we’re here to be with you every step of the way. Request an appointment online or call us at (502) 589-1100.
Reviewed by Brittany Pape, the Division Director of Child Crisis Services at Seven Counties Services.
