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Taking Charge of Your Life
is a free correspondence course for those who
want to get the most out of life.
To enrol contact the Adventist Discovery Centre:
Phone: +61 2 9847 2222
Fax: +61 2 9847 2200
Email: applications@amcdiscovery.com.au
Please note: courses are free for people in Australia and New Zealand only.
Mental Wellbeing
Living a healthy lifestyle also includes taking care of your emotional and mental needs. This helps you to be alert and in control when unexpected events happen in your life. Your attitude toward life, your emotions and the amount of stress you have in your life can all affect your mental wellbeing.
Everyone suffers a little stress in life. Below are some tips to help you live smart with less stress.
> Winning With Stress
> 12 Stress Solutions
> Emotional Wellbeing
> Understanding Mental Illness
> Counselling
The right amount of stress makes life exciting.
Some stress is necessary and good.
A moderate amount of stress, properly directed can help us -
- Be successful
- Be creative
- Become motivated
- Achieve in life and enjoy it
Practise the ABCs of Stress Control
A - Awareness
- Recognise and identify your symptoms and causes of stress.
B - Balance
- Put life into balance and discover ways to lower stress.
C - Control
- Take control of your life and destiny by the choices you make.
- "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference."
Living smart is keeping a balance in life.
Choose the strategies that work best for you. Diet, exercise and rest are vital. Include several others in your daily routine. Don't forget other people also have stress - share ideas with your family. Prevention is way ahead of cure.
- Eat Smart
- Choose a balanced nutritious diet
- Include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
- Avoid junk food and extremes
- Exercise Regularly
- Choose exercises that you enjoy
- Have a regular program, 5-7 times a week
- Brisk walking is great - 45 minutes a day
- Get Beauty Sleep
- Sleep restores the mind and body
- Plan for 7-8 hours a night
- If you wake refreshed you have had sufficient sleep
- Take Control of Your Life
- Be in control of the things that matter
- Direct your part of the stage of life
- Anticipate Change
- Prepare for future crises
- Expand your mind, look for better ways to do things
- Don't get caught in the usual old rut
- Laugh it Off
- Humour is a great stress reliever
- See the funny side of life
- Laugh every day and at yourself
- Talk Things Through
- Learn to communicate effectively
- Share joys and problems with close friends
- Don't bottle up frustration and fears
- Learn to Relax
- Discover ways to relax body and mind
- Try deep breathing, stretching
- Enjoy the quietness of nature
- Have a warm bath, get a massage
- Play your special music
- Meditate
- Take Time to Play
- Recreation gives sparkle to life
- Find a hobby or leisure interest
- Hike and explore the great outdoors
- Try water sports, play team games
- Be Happy
- Happiness is a state of mind
- Use positive self talk
- Smile on the outside and on the inside
- Develop Friendships
- Build strong family relationships
- Keep old friends, make new ones
- Help others in need
- Don't Be Afraid to Cry
- We all have times of sadness and loss
- Tears are an outlet for the emotions
> Have goals, a plan and a winning attitude
> Practise the golden rule - treat others as you want them to treat you
> Cherish your values and create magic moments for yourself and others
Enhance Your Emotional Wellbeing
As you think, you are.
There is a vital mind-body connection that influences our emotional responses, behaviour and health.
Emotional dysfunction is caused by physical and sexual abuse, faulty self perception and mental illness.
- Develop a positive self concept
- Believe in yourself
- Recognise your potential and limitations
- Discard irrational fears and beliefs
- Defuse hostility and anger
- Accept and give positive responses
When you feel OK, life is an exciting challenge.
Living smart is developing a positive attitude.
At some stage in their lives, one in five people will experience a mental illness.
Some facts on mental illness -
- Varies from mild or temporary to severe
- Caused by a physical dysfunction of the brain
- Most of these illnesses can be treated
- Many people have a brief episode and recover
- People need support and acceptance
Seek professional treatment for any mental illness problem:
- Psychotic Illnesses - losing touch with reality
- Schizophrenia - affects mental functioning and personality
- Bipolar Disorder - (manic depression) extreme mood swings
- Nonpsychotic Illnesses -
- Depression - intense, prolonged sadness and despair
- Obsessive compulsive disorders such as constantly washing hands
- Eating disorders - bulimia, anorexia nervosa
To find out more about mental illness visit www.sane.org (a site run by the Australian Schizophrenia Foundation).
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