With the semester coming to a close and ending with midterms, it is important to think about your mental health … know what your body needs and when to take a break.
Therapy can be expensive, or your therapist could not have time for you when you need them. Having remedies at home to care for your mental health allows you to take care of your wellbeing right off the bat, with things that are minimal cost and even free.
Yoga & Meditation
Yoga is well-known for its stress-reducing effects and positive impact on mental health and well-being. Studies have shown that yoga can be effective in managing anxiety and depression.
Yoga is associated with improved mood and increased feelings of well-being… the combination of physical postures and mindfulness in yoga can help in managing mood disorders and anxiety.
Journal JAMA Internal Medicine
Along with meditation, meditation offers numerous benefits for mental health, cultivating mindfulness, relaxation, and emotional well-being. Meditation allows people to balance their emotions, which can contribute to better mental health. A study conducted in the journal Emotion states,
Mindfulness meditation training can lead to improved emotional regulation and reduced reactivity to negative emotions.
Journaling
Journaling allows individuals to express their emotions, reduce their stress and anxiety and clarify their thoughts and emotions. When having a hard day and feeling as though you have no one to talk to, journaling can be your shoulder to lean on. Any emotions or thoughts can be said in the journal without fear of judgment and insecurity.
Journaling can help you clarify your thoughts and feelings. It can also help problem-solving and resolve disagreements with others
Psychologist Maud Purcell
When you put your worries on paper, it can provide a sense of release and help you gain a different perspective. Journaling provides a space for reflection to you to look back on, relief and allows you to get into the habit of practicing for your overall well-being.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a healing practice that utilizes essential oils to promote mental health. Specific oils like lavender and chamomile have a calming scent to them, which can induce relaxation and help reduce stress and anxiety. While other scents like citrus, peppermint and rosemary can alleviate feelings of sadness and low energy.
Some essential oils, when inhaled or applied topically, may help regulate the body’s stress hormones, leading to a sense of relaxation and reduced stress.
The Journal of Physiological Anthropology
However, it is important to acknowledge that aromatherapy should be used as a practice, not as a sole treatment. Reactions to aromatherapy may vary depending on the person and may be found more effective on some than others.
The Aftermath
While different remedies work best for different people, depending on the situation, the body being treated and the level of remedy being accessed. At-home remedies allow you to address the stressor head-on and in that moment.
The end of the semester can be hard and stressful. Know that you are not alone and there are so many ways to keep yourself happy. VALLEY always has your back!
Tweet us @VALLEYmag with your favorite at-home remedy you have tried that betters your mental health!
