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Life Guidelines Home > Mental Health Information |
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Mental health advice, tips and information |
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What is Mental Health?By Leonard Holmes, Ph.D.
At all times it has been easier to describe mental illnesses than to define mental health. In the USA, the American Psychiatric Association by tradition has been the institute to define mental disorders. More recently, many have accepted that mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. Even though many of us do not suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder, it is clear that some of us are mentally healthier than others. The study of the characteristics that make up mental health has been called "positive psychology." Here are several of the ideas that have been put forward as characteristics of mental health:
• The ability to enjoy life - The ability to enjoy life is vital to good mental health. James Taylor wrote, "The secret of life is enjoying the passing of time. Any fool can do it. There is nothing to it." The practice of mindfulness meditation is one way to cultivate the ability to enjoy the present. We, of course, need to plan for the future at times; and we also need to learn from the past. Frequently we make ourselves unhappy in the present by worrying about the future.
• Resilience - The ability to bounce back from adversity has been referred to as "resilience." It has been long known that some people handle stress better than others do. Why are some Viet Nam combat veterans handicapped for life, while others become United States senators? Why do some adults raised in alcoholic families do well, while others have repeated problems in life? Those who cope well with stress share the characteristic of “resilience”.
• Balance - Balance in life seems to result in greater mental health. We all require balancing time spent socially with time spent alone, for example. Those who spend all of their time alone may be labeled as "loners", and they may lose many of their social skills. Extreme social isolation may even result in a split with reality. Those who ignore the need for some solitary times also risk such a split. Balancing these two requirements seems to be the key – although we all balance these differently.
• Flexibility - We all know people who hold very inflexible opinions. No amount of discussion can transform their views. Such people frequently set themselves up for added stress by the rigid expectations that they hold. Working on making our expectations more elastic can improve our mental health.
These are just a few of the concepts that are significant in attempting to describe mental health. The ability to form healthy relationships with others is also significant. Adult and adolescent mental health also includes the concepts of self-esteem and healthy sexuality. How we deal with loss and death is also a significant element of mental health.
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