It is generally believed that the connections a person make through social activities, places, and relationships can go a long way in building a safety net for the individual’s mental and physical health.
Healthy connections and relationships with partners, friends, co-workers, family and people in your immediate environment can reduce your Kevel of depression and anxiety. They also help in the positive and productive evaluation of your self-esteem and worth.
Individuals suffering from mental health conditions need to build a socio-cultural relationship with other people living in their society. This socio-cultural relationship will give room for pleasure and comfort and reduce the disorder that they experience.
These socio-cultural connections and relationships can include chatting with someone, talking to a friend, going to places of worship, visiting recreational centres, taking part in sports, joining a church choir or a group of like-minded individuals. Staying connected through these relationships can save you from the stress of mental health conditions.
How social connections and relationships improve a person’s mental and physical life through creative activities.
There are several creative activities that can help you in maintaining physical and mental stability. Some of these creative activities include dancing, singing, playing games, painting, drawing, acting and general participation in arts. Dancing, for instance, can increase your self-worth and reduce depression, anxiety, pain and body aches.
Also, singing, especially when carried out amidst a group of people creates an atmosphere fir pleasure and in the process, aid the release of hormones which builds feelings and sense of bond and trust. Active participation and engagement for at least two hours every three days a week will help you in developing good mental health.
To reduce the risk of mental health disorder, having a garden, visiting parks and recreational centres and having a good sleep are factors that should be embraced.
The anxiety and loneliness that comes with old age are responsible for poor mental and physical health experienced by many aged people. Staying connected by visiting libraries, community centres, town halls, museums or reading local newspapers can reduce the feelings of loneliness and solitude.
Community involvement provides a feeling of belonging and social connectedness. It adds purpose to daily life and makes a living a lot more measurable and comfortable. It encourages and enhances positive emotional life and mental and physical health.
Communities are not limited to your immediate surroundings alone. It encompasses the background life experiences, hobbies as well as locations shared with other people. It includes the social media platforms, online forums that can help you in building improved self-esteem, a healthier mindset and better enjoyment of life. Creating new connections through hobbies and social activities can reduce the risk of mental disorder.
Man and culture are inseparable. The culture was made for man and man for culture. The first agent of culture is the family—it us the smallest cultural unit that influences your perceptions and evaluations of what you think is indispensable.
Culture and its agents which include the family, school, society, religious institutions are responsible for shaping your attitudes and views about physical and mental health and life. They equip you with the necessary skills to cope with challenges and difficult situations, how to discuss them, and how to seek support.
Culture also teaches the approaches to relaxation, conflict resolution and self-care practices. Contemporary elements of culture such as belief, arts and crafts, sexual orientation and identity should be embraced in every community. This will eliminate negative impacts and influences on people’s physical and mental life.
Disconnection from your cultural background can make you question who you truly are and where you belong. This can cause a feeling of loneliness and isolation. Hence, connection with your cultural heritage and background will help you identify yourself and where you belong. It will also improve your emotional, mental and physical life.
Environment refers to the totality of man’s interaction and relationship with both the living and non-living components of his surroundings. Man influences his physical environment by building houses and constructing shelters. But going out and exploring nature can be very important in improving our physical and mental health.
Visiting the beach, tourist centres, gardens and parks will lessen the stress you go through and give you a sense of calm and comfort. Exploring the natural environment by exposing yourself to fresh air, sunlight, open spaces can reduce your stress level and influence your life positively. Interacting with nature can help you build positive mental health and save you from daily stress.
The bond and interaction between man and animals can be traced back to the creation. You can develop your physical health and mental life by spending time with pets. Pets are generally relied upon yo be trustworthy and loyal and as well serve as a source of comfort and solace.
The behaviours exhibited by pets depict certain similarities that exist between man and animals. These similarities if taken advantage of aid emotional life and foster mental growth and development.
Pets serve as security and make us feel safer in our environment. They also make us laugh and looking after them can equip us with some skills needed to boost and enhance our life.