The following article was kindly written and contributed by Lewis Robinson.

When it comes to ways to improve mental health or addressing mental health issues, many are aware that they can seek professional help in the form of counseling or medication. However, while these things may be helpful, some may want additional ways to help support their healing naturally.

If you're looking for things you can do on your own to help take your mental health into your own hands, here are some things to try.

Improve Your Diet and Nutrition

Even though your diet may not be the first thing that you think of when it comes to working on your mental health, what you eat can make a big difference. Additionally, it is not just what you eat, but what you don't eat that can affect your mental health as well. While foods that have substances like caffeine and sugar may improve your mood temporarily, they can lead you to experiencing a crash when they wear off and can make your mood worse in the long run.

By limiting these substances and including more foods that are high in healthy fats and protein like coconut oil and salmon, you can help stabilize your blood sugar and your mood, which will in turn improve mental health.

Also, if you struggle to get proper nutrition through your diet, including a supplement can be a beneficial option. Before you choose a supplement, though, it can be a good idea to do your research and make sure that you understand thrive side effects first.

Write It Out

Journaling isn't just a way to express yourself, it can be a great tool for improving your mental health as well. Writing down your feelings in a journal can be beneficial for releasing pent up emotions in a healthy way, as well as tracking your moods and understanding what may be triggering issues with your mental health. Not only that, but there are different types of journaling you can do, like gratitude journaling, which can help you to view your life in a new and more positive light.

Make Sure You Get Your Sleep

Most are aware that sleep is important for feeling good throughout the day, but what many may not realize is that it can have a direct impact on mental health overall. When you slip into deep sleep cycles at night, your brain does a lot of work to process your emotions. If you don't get enough sleep, or are unable to get deep sleep, your brain may not be able to carry out these important functions. This could not only worsen existing mental health issues, but it could even cause ones to develop, too. Even though it may not always be easy to get a full night's sleep, making an effort to improve your sleep hygiene can still make a significant difference.

Practice Mindfulness

When working to improve mental health, one of the best things you can do is learn to calm your nervous system and reduce stress. Stress is particularly bad at exacerbating nearly all mental health issues, so finding effective ways to reduce it can make a big difference for your mental wellbeing overall. When you meditate, it not only reduces stress, but over time can help to improve mental health, rewire your brain and change the way that it processes stressful events. Because of this, it can be a helpful tool in keeping stress at bay n the long term, as long as you continue to practice it. While it may not be easy to meditate for the recommended period of 15 to 20 minutes a day initially, by starting out practicing in smaller increments of 5 to 10 minutes, it can be easy to build up your practice as you go.

A Final Word

Even though professional help may be available to improve mental health issues, some may still need extra help to feel their best. Not only that, but it can also be empowering to know that there are things you can do yourself to take your mental health into your own hands. While it may not always feel easy, by doing things like improving your diet and practicing mindfulness, it can be possible to make positive changes.