Unlocking Your Full Potential: What Mental Wellness Truly Means
Mental wellness isn’t just about feeling “okay”—it’s about thriving! It’s the state of being where you’re not only functioning at your best but also living a life filled with purpose and fulfilment. Whether it’s managing stress, nurturing relationships, or achieving your personal goals, mental wellness touches every aspect of your life: emotional, psychological, and social.
As the World Health Organisation (WHO) beautifully puts it, mental wellness is “a state of well-being where every individual realises their own potential, can handle life’s everyday challenges, works productively, and contributes meaningfully to their community.”
On the flip side, mental health issues affect how we think, feel, and act. From anxiety to depression, these conditions can impact your relationships, daily routine, and overall quality of life—but they don’t define who you are. The good news is that with the right support and tools, we can all take steps toward a healthier, more balanced life.
Common Mental Health Issues
- Anxiety Disorders: These involve excessive worry or fear that disrupts daily life, like generalised anxiety, panic disorder, or social anxiety.
- Mood Disorders: Persistent sadness, irritability, or hopelessness that affects everyday life, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or seasonal affective disorder.
- Psychotic Disorders: Distorted thinking or perceptions that affect reality, like schizophrenia or psychotic depression.
- Personality Disorders: Unusual patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that cause distress, such as borderline or narcissistic personality disorder.
- Trauma & Stress Disorders: Reactions to traumatic events, including PTSD and adjustment disorders.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders: Recurrent thoughts or behaviours, such as OCD or body dysmorphia.
- Eating Disorders: Unhealthy eating behaviours or thoughts about food and body image, like anorexia or bulimia.
- Sleep Disorders: Issues with sleep patterns or excessive tiredness, including insomnia and sleep apnoea.
- Substance & Addictive Disorders: Addiction to substances or behaviours, like alcohol use or gambling.
Managing mental health problems requires a multi-faceted approach that involves self-care, therapy, and, if necessary, medication.
Here are a Few Strategies to Support Managing Mental Health Challenges
Self-Care
- Practice relaxation techniques such as Yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises which can help reduce stress and anxiety.
- Exercise regularly as physical activity can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve mood and enhance sleep.
- Get enough sleep, aiming for 7-8 hours of sleep per night to help regulate mood and reduce symptoms of mental health conditions.
- Eat a healthy diet, focusing on consuming whole, nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
- Engage in activities you enjoy such as hobbies, creative pursuits, or social activities that bring pleasure and fulfilment.
Therapy
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). This therapy helps identify and change negative thought patterns, behaviours, and coping mechanisms.
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). This therapy focuses on developing emotional regulation, mindfulness, and coping skills.
- Psychoanalytic therapy. This therapy explores unconscious thoughts, feelings, and experiences to understand and address underlying emotions and behaviours.
- Group therapy. This therapy provides social support, education, and skills training in a group setting.
Medication
- Antidepressants can help treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
- Anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed to help manage anxiety disorders.
- Mood stabilisers can be used to treat conditions like bipolar disorder.
Try these techniques to help shift your mindset naturally:
Techniques
- Daily Affirmations: Write and repeat positive affirmations daily to reprogram your mindset. For example, “I am capable of handling life’s challenges” or “I deserve happiness and peace.” This can shift your focus from negative thoughts to empowering beliefs.
- Mindful Breathing with Anchoring: Use deep, mindful breathing combined with anchoring techniques. For example, while taking slow, deep breaths, place your hand over your heart or press your thumb and finger together, associating the gesture with calmness. Over time, the gesture will help you access calm feelings quickly.
- Self-Hypnosis for Calm and Clarity: Create a calm, safe space in your mind, visualising yourself in that space while repeating soothing phrases like “I am calm and in control.” This helps reduce anxiety and stress.
- Reframing Journal: Keep a “reframing journal” where you note down negative or unhelpful thoughts and actively reframe them. For example, turning “I can’t do this” into “I’m learning and growing through this experience.” This practice trains the brain to think more positively over time.
- Practice mindfulness: Focus on the present moment, without judgment, to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Mental health apps: Make use of apps like Calm or Headspace to access guided meditation, mood tracking, and coping skills.
Reach Out for Help, There is No Need to do This Alone
SADAG (South African Depression and Anxiety Group):
Helpline: 0800 567 567
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 456 789
SMS Helpline: 31393 (24-hour service)
Lifeline South Africa:
National Crisis Line: 0861 322 322
Akeso Psychiatric Response Unit (24 hours):
0861 435 787
FAMSA (Families South Africa):
National Office: 011 975 7106 / 011 975 7146
Childline South Africa:
National Helpline: 0800 055 555
Azura Body Mind Soul
Claudia – 082 465 5727
Cassandra – 083 326 5978
https://azurabodymindsoul.com
info@azurabodymindsoul.com
Have You Booked Your Spot for Our Upcoming Event?
Maximising Your Holiday Period for Mental, Emotional and Financial Preparation for 2025
We invite you to an interactive morning workshop where you will gain valuable insights and practical tools to make the most of your holiday period. Learn how to effectively prepare mentally, emotionally, and financially for the year ahead, ensuring a balanced and successful start to 2025. Do not miss this opportunity to equip yourself with strategies that will help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.
When: Saturday, 2nd November 2024
Place: WellthSpace, 78 Iris Road, Norwood, JHB
Time: 9:00am – 11:00am
Investment: R 100pp
Contact: Claudia – 082 465 5727 | Cassandra – 083 326 5987
Book your ticket via the following link:
Prepare for 2025 – Mentally, Emotionally, Financially
