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Your emotional wellness refers to your thoughts, your moods, and your behaviors. It’s also very closely related to your mental health.
Studies show that most mental health conditions begin before age 24. However, it’s not always easy to identify mental health conditions, especially if you haven’t been diagnosed with one before.
There are steps you can take to support and strengthen emotional wellness. When you’re emotionally strong, it’s easier to power through life’s challenges.
Here are some ways you can strengthen your emotional wellness:
- Develop healthy habits to combat stress. Students say they’re feeling pressure to get good grades, to look good, and to fit in socially. You’re more likely to keep these common stresses in check when you develop a routine that includes time for healthy eating, sleeping, exercising, studying, and socializing.
- Limit the digital disruptions. Phones and ongoing social media updates, news alerts, emails, and texts can leave you feeling frazzled. Learn to limit the information overload and fear of missing out by setting aside certain periods during the day for catching up.
- Watch for concerning symptoms. Your emotional wellness is closely tied to your thoughts, moods, and behaviors. It’s helpful to review the following checklist. If you have these symptoms, take steps to address them. Left untreated, they’re likely to escalate:
- Are you feeling sad or down?
- Are you having difficulty concentrating?
- Are you experiencing excessive fear, worry, or guilt?
- Are you experiencing mood swings, severe highs and lows?
- Are you experiencing paranoia or hallucinations?
- Are you unable to cope with everyday stresses and challenges?
- Have you withdrawn from friends and activities?
- Are you showing excessive tiredness, low energy, or having trouble sleeping?
- Are you having trouble understanding and relating to situations and people?
- Are you experiencing problems with alcohol or drug use?
- Are you showing signs of excessive anger, hostility, or violence?
- Are you experiencing major changes in eating habits or sex drive?
- Are you intentionally harming yourself?
These are exciting years, but they’re also full of challenges and emotional highs and lows. Your Assistance Program is here to help. To learn more, visit Member Support.
