What’s something you do to prioritize your mental health?

I have spent a life time helping and praying for others. I am very satisfied and proud of my service to my country, my family and as a volunteer first responder. In consulting with VA I realized that I was not concerned with my own mental needs, it was never about me only others. With the counselors help I now take time for my self relaxing and making plans to do some of the things I love doing which I have not in years. At 76 it is time to take time for me to enjoy the rest of my life.

When stresses mount due to dealing with businesses and people who do not listen to you and care only about what they can get from you especially your hard earned money, I just shun them and leave and avoid them. Then I go out and walk in the areas where there are animals like Geese, Rabbits, Prairie Dogs, Squirrels, Deer, and the like. I have an outreach animal ministry to respectfully distanced talk and tell them they are of value, tell them how to be careful and safe around people, I love them and God Bless them. Also will play Christian and inspirational and easy listening music. Will also read to them of inspirational text including the Bible stressing stories of animals. The return of this is awesome. I have Geese who know me and will see me in their flight and will divert the direction to come and call to me. We have a memorial remembrance of 9/11 and ever since this started I asked them to fly over and they have. Even when we could not have a gathering for it due to COVID, and only a few of us placed the wreaths, they flew over. They to can act like "pet therapy". They can heal a broken heart. To access this is take the time to tell them you appreciate them and more you do it the greater the reward for both of you. I have had Deer come out of forest and thickets to get closer to listen to music. When I try to minister humans to realize this it is mostly depressing and I pray they do not use if to get closer to them to kill them. These are the risks of life and now much more so because we as humans go about believing we have the right to decimated God's Creation. My God keeps me sane showing me ways to be joyful and at times see the humor in the teaching of us about us. God also directs me and groomed me for my ministry.

Participate in the Brain Health Project online to improve my mental health.
Also, meditate every day.

I don't watch the news. It's all lies designed to get us depressed and think o woe is me. I don't fall for it. JESUS is my Savior, so the future is looking fantastic. Look up for your redemption IF you've trusted JESUS as your Savior.

I am 75 and play solitaire, solve crossword puzzles and do not watch any media news. My mental health is good right now...unless I am in trouble with my wife and then my memory becomes selective.

I have Major Depression and PTSD, so to keep my mind positive, I read inspirational quotes, I watch comedy shows that makes me laugh, I don’t watch the news, only the weather. I stay away from toxic relationships and friends. When a negative thought enters my mind, I shut it down and then of something thats pleasant to me like the stars or water falls. I keep my mind sharp by doing internet games like Wordle, Scrabble, Words with Friends, Solitaire to name a few on a daily basis. ,

Virtual telehealth appts reduce my anxiety over financial and logistical transportation issues. The VA in chollicothd is slow to reimburse and the counties veteran asst no longer assist with transportation of any veteran awarded more than 30 percent service connection.

My anxiety was too much to bear. After many years, antidepressants and benzodiazepines provided no relief, so I turned to talk therapy. That helped keep me alive, but once the session ended, I was unable to put whatever I learned into practice. So, I decided to try yoga but that did not help me. Then I joined a gym and exercised to the point that I a highly anxious, fit person. I took to the internet to look for yet another solution and found-out about meditation. I started with guided meditation I downloaded free from the net. It seemed boring and tedious, but I read that you have to work at it two times a day for 20-minutes, and so I gave it a shot. The same as antidepressants, it took about 60-days of persistent meditation before I felt a slight sense of calm. Another 30-days later, I began to feel moments of peace and felt relaxed while meditating. I began to experience with music, mediation for sleep, and 10-minute meditation sessions throughout the day (when possible). IT HELPED IMMENSELY. When I wake up in the morning, I close my eyes and "check-in" with myself - I look for those areas of my body that hold tension, relax them, and jump out of bed to get on with my day knowing that I can always calm myself by just closing my eyes and CHOOSING to be calm. Does it sound like too much trouble/ time to get results? Well, for me it took as long as SSRIs to achieve better results without side effects, and I am no longer dependent on benzodiazepines. I still see my psychiatrist every 2-3 months, but self-monitoring my mental well-being through mediation is probably the most important event of my day. Try it - you have nothing to lose but the time you probably spend worrying about things that will most likely never come to pass. And, if it does not work for you, note that perhaps medication, exercise, a new purpose in life (e.g., volunteering at your local homeless shelter) a new hobby, etc. may be your solution. Most important to so look for that one thing that you do for yourself which helps you understand that your mental well-being is key to a a peaceful, well-lived life.

I realize it is often an overused phrase, but finding that delicate balance between work, family time, or other important priorities/interests in someone’s life is one of the keys to achieving positive mental health.

You are the old old Bate and switch scam aren't you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!