National Addiction Treatment Week has come to a close, and hopefully, you found some time to spread the message that treatment works, and recovery is possible. Naturally, the effort to end the stigma of addiction is a year-round job; the fight must continue, millions of Americans are unwilling to seek help due to the toxic nature of stigma. Keeping that in mind, it is only right that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. One of the primary goals of this observance is confronting stigma. If more individuals find support, lives are saved.
Mental fitness is just as vital as physical wellbeing. What’s more, the mind and body have an ineluctable connection; the heath of the one is dependent upon the other. While millions of Americans make a point of getting to the gym (which is good for the psyche) to tone up for summer, it would be nice if the same people placed a greater emphasis on mental wellbeing, too. Mental health is something everyone should care about!
Most people lead busy lives, and many of us work more than what experts would consider healthy. It may seem like we don’t have time to focus on mental illness; yet would you believe that there are a few simple things you can do to promote mental health? Such as eating right, getting enough sleep, and (again) exercise.
Fitness #4Mind4Body During Mental Health Month
Mental Health America (MHA) is one of the primary sponsors of the events going on this month. This year the organization chose the theme: Fitness #4Mind4Body. People living with mental illness can do themselves a great service by focusing on diet & nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress; MHA has some key messages that they would like to share, including:
- Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable.
- Paying attention to both your physical health and your mental health can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to recovery.
- Eating healthy foods, managing stress, exercising, and getting enough sleep can go a long way in making you both physically and mentally healthy.
- Living a healthy lifestyle may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes.
- By looking at your overall health every day – both physically and mentally – you can go a long way in ensuring that you focus on your Fitness #4Mind4Body.
“As part of our efforts this May, we’re asking you to take the #4Mind4Body Challenge and join Mental Health America as we challenge ourselves each day to make small changes – both physically and mentally – to create huge gains for our overall health and wellbeing.”
Each day brings a new challenge and you can share your progress and successes by posting on social media with #4Mind4Body.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Addiction and a co-occurring mental health disorder like depression often go hand-in-hand. If you are struggling with a dual diagnosis, please contact Hemet Valley Recovery Center and Sage Retreat. With our assistance, you can begin the life-saving journey of lasting recovery, so that you may lead a fulfilling and productive life.