Keeping up with your mental health can sometimes mean seeking support from a mental health professional, but it can also mean taking the everyday steps needed to boost your mental and emotional wellness.
6 Ways to Boost Your Mental Health
6 Ways to Boost Your Mental Health
Articles
Here are eight things you can do every day to boost your mental health:
Start your day on a positive note
Having a morning routine is good, but making sure you’re starting your day on a positive note is important, too. Showing gratitude, whether it’s towards yourself, someone else or something else, can improve your mental health and emotional well-being.
Instead of firing up your social media apps as soon as you wake up, take some time to give yourself a compliment or to acknowledge something or someone you’re grateful for. Or do both! Promoting feelings of self-worth can have a powerful effect on your mood, and keeping a journal of the things or people you’re grateful for can help fill you with joy and happiness.
Stay present
It can be easy to fixate on questions like: What if? Why me? and What’s next?
But these questions can distract your mind from enjoying life and completing the tasks at hand. In fact, research shows that “a wandering mind is an unhappy mind.”
Rather than thinking about what isn’t even actually happening right now, focus on what is happening. Your coffee is hot. This new playlist sounds fun. Your dog looks extra fluffy today. This banana tastes perfectly ripened.
Whether it’s a sound, smell, taste or sight, focusing on physical sensations you’re experiencing can help quiet your busy mind and ground you in the present moment.
Make time for exercise
We all know that exercising regularly is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight, and you may also know that it benefits your heart. But exercise also benefits your brain — supporting cognitive function, improving mood and reducing stress and anxiety.
This means that regular exercise, even if it’s just a 20 minutes a day, can help you cope with stress and improve your overall mental health. It’s also a great way to feel a sense of accomplishment, as well as a healthy way to take control of your life during a time of uncertainty.
Set goals for yourself
There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment. Whether it’s losing 10 pounds, saving up money for a down payment or getting that promotion you’ve been gunning for — achieving a goal can help boost your self-esteem and self-worth.
One thing to keep in mid while setting goals, though, is to make sure they’re realistic. Your goals should be challenging, but should also play toward your strengths. In addition, make sure you can devote the time and effort needed to achieve the goals you’re setting. If there’s something you’d like to do, but are unsure how realistic it might be, consider trying it as a hobby first.
Take sleep seriously
Most nights, it’s probably pretty easy to choose that TV episode that’s currently being queued up for you over getting some shut-eye. But that voice in the back of your mind saying, “It’s time for bed,” is almost always right.
This means it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough sleep every single night. It’s also important to make sure you’re setting yourself up for sleep success — by doing things like avoiding staring at your devices before bed.
Lack of sleep, as well as low-quality sleep, can have a big impact on how you feel the next day. It can make you more irritable, as well as reduce your ability to concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Don’t be ashamed to ask for help
Admitting that you’re struggling is hard, but there’s no shame in it.
If you feel like stress, sadness or negative feelings are starting to pile up, try confiding in a friend or family member. Talking to someone about your concerns can help you process your feelings more fully, and may help reduce some of the burden you’re feeling. It may also strengthen the bond between yourself and another person especially if he or she is experiencing the same struggles. All of these things can help improve your mood.
If you’re concerned about your mental health and want to speak with a mental health professional, we are here to help.
Call us on : 04 224 5736
If you would like to talk, feel free to reach out to us. An LifeWorks therapist would be able to help.
Harpreet Saini
Consultant Psychologist - English, Hindi & Punjabi
CDA Licensed Psychologist - 13+ Years
Dr. Mohammed Fried Ahmed
Clinical Psychologist - Arabic
PHD Psychotherapy - 6+ Years
Khansa Abd Almalik
Clinical Psychologist - Arabic
PHD Psychotherapy - 6+ Years
Prerna Siroya
Counselling Psychologist - English & Hindi
CDA Licensed Psychologist - 4+ Years
Dina Alqedra
Clinical Psychologist - Arabic & English
DHA Licensed Psychologist - 6+ Years
Nuzhat Basheer
Consultant psychologist - English, Hindi & Tamil
CDA Licensed Psychologist, M.Sc. in Psychology - 10+ Years
Vidushi Sukam
Consultant Psychologist - English, Hindi & Punjabi
CDA Licensed Psychologist | RCI Licensed Rehabilitation Psychologist - 13+ Years
Olena Taleski
Counselling Psychologist - English and Russian
Master Degree in Psychology - 13+ Years
Simrah Hamdulay
Consultant psychologist - English and Hindi
CDA Licensed Psychologist, MSc in Child and Adolescent Psychology - 3+ Years
Javaria Zahra
Counselling Psychologist - English, Urdu and Hindi
MD/ MS/ MPhil in Applied Psychology - 16+ Years
Fatima Altaf
Counselling Psychologist - Urdu, Hindi and English
Msc. Psychology - 8+ Years
Aarhie Kaushik
Clinical Psychologist - English & Hindi
Msc. Psychology - 8+ Years
Dr. Febna Moorkath
Psychiatric Social Worker - English & Malayalam
PhD & M.Phil in Psychiatric Social Work - 10+ Years
Dr. Fatemeh Abdi
Clinical Psychologist - English and Persian
PhD. in Psychology - 20+ Years
Dr. Azizreza Ghasemzadehi
Counselling Psychologist - Farsi & English
PhD in Psychology & Education of Exceptional Children - 20+ Years
Saima Khan
Clinical Psychologist - English, Urdu, Punjabi & Pashto
Ph.D. Scholar in Clinical Psychology - 6 Years
Kinan Ali
Counselling Psychologist - Arabic and English
PhD. in Psychology - 6 Years
Dr. Abdelaziz Osman
Consultant Psychiatrist - Arabic and English
MD, AB, Msc, Cert - 20+ Years
Naeema Ali
Psychologist - Arabic & English
Dr. Naeema Ali trained psychology and social worker students of UAE University. She is actively providing counselling support to cancer patients and their families. She launched an occupational therapy for cancer patients and cognitive behavioural therapy in Tawam.
Due to her continued support in oncology and ongoing support to cancer patients, Naeema received countless awards locally and international to recognize her achievements and skills. She has been invited to participate in various conferences and workshops around the world and invited as a guest speaker in various subjects that covers psychology.
She also joined Al Sayegh Medical Center as a Social Worker, providing comprehensive assessment and treatment services to children and families, in inpatient and/or outpatient settings, and communicates with referral sources as indicated by applying psychometric test, such as IQ Test, MMPI, Wechsler Test for children. Exhibit superior communication skills to uncover complicated mental health issues; develop and recommend treatment plans based on patient needs and diagnosis.
She continued working as a clinical psychologist providing counselling within the multi-cultural environment of the Emirates Airlines for the past 15 years. Her main task is providing mental health support to inflight and ground staff and addresses any problems, anxieties, or job-related stresses that they are dealing with. She uses her findings to help improve processes and behaviors of a patient to maintain a safe environment, to manage stress, overcome trauma, or avoid job-related conflicts. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the method Naeema is using to reduce the difficulties, anxieties, and stress that employee faces.
Naeema is also part of “ Shawer ”, the “Seek Our Advice”, and “We Listen To You” program of the Family Development Foundation of Abu Dhabi. The aim of the program was to promote family awareness and support a stable family life. It involves a group of community members who deal with family problems in a positive manner and provide individual and group counseling in social, psychological, and educational areas. They do so in a systematic way according to the needs of community members.
Besides “ Shawer ”, Naeema is also a volunteer of “ Friends of Cancer ” of Sharjah, supporting patients and their families to overcome the multitude psychological difficulties that they are experiencing due to cancer treatment as well as introducing some programs such as health education, self-care and some community programs wherein they can collaborate and share their experiences.
Area of interest:
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Psycho-oncology
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CBT
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Psychometric Assessments
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Children, Adults and Family therapy
Qualification and Membership:
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Psychology graduation from the University of Wisconsin
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Licensed by Community Development Authority
Graduation in Psychology, (Phd) - 30 Years
Dr. Mohammed Bardi
Consultant Psychiatrist - Arabic, English
Dr. Mohammed Bardi M.B.B.S, M.D (Psychiatry) has worked under different capacities in clinical and hospital setups in Saudi, USA, and UAE. He comes with over 15 years of experience in mental health. He specifically worked with cases relating to schizophrenic, bipolar disorder, dual diagnosis, major depressive disorder with suicidal risks, anxiety disorders, Intellectual disabilities, Autistic spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD).
Area of interest:
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Mood disorders
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Anxiety disorders
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Improving life skills (social skills, self- esteem, decision making, coping with stress, problem solving, and time management)
Qualification and Membership:
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MBBS COLLEAGUE OF MEDICINE, KING SAUD UNIVERSITY 2003 (KKU).
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ARAB BOARD OF MEDICAL SPECIALTIES IN PSYCHIATRY 2007
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ANXIETY DISORDERS WORKSHOP (DIPLOMA), 2010
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ADDICTION FELLOWSHIP UCLA, USA, 2010-2011
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ADDICTION RESEARCH AND MATRIX TRAINING, ISAP, UCLA, LOS ANGELES, CA, USA 2014-2015
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BACHELOR’S DEGREE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY
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ARAB BOARD OF MEDICAL SPECIALTIES IN PSYCHIATRY
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ADDICTION FELLOWSHIP UCLA 2011, 2015
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BETTY FORD CERTIFICATE, ADDICTION PROGRAM 2010
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CDA) Licensed Psychologist
Therapeutic Approach:
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At LifeWorks Holistic Counselling Center Dubai, Dr. Bardi works collaboratively within our expert multidisciplinary team, in treating a wide array of psychiatric conditions including:
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Anxiety disorders
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Substance use disorders
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Mood disorders including depression and Bipolar affective disorders
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Psychotic disorders (Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders)
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Personality disorders
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Cognitive disorders including Dementia
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Learning disabilities (intellectual disability disorders)
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Child and adolescents’ disorders like Separation anxiety disorders, conduct
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disorders and ADHD
M.B.B.S, M.D (Psychiatry) - 15 years
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