Finding people to relate to and doing things that bring you enjoyment are effective ways to improve your mood and overall mental health.
It’s no secret that loneliness is bad for your health.
- Loneliness can cause the same amount of damage to your lifespan as smoking 15 cigarettes daily and is more dangerous to your health than obesity.
- Loneliness is also associated with a higher risk of hypertension (high blood pressure).
- Women with breast cancer who have weak social support systems before treatment have more pain and symptoms of depression over time.
Social interaction and participating in activities are both good for your health.
- People with strong social relationships are 50 percent more likely to live longer.
- People who do things in nature have better perceptions of their emotional well-being.
- Teenagers who participate in sports have less risk of experiencing depression or thoughts of suicide.
Use these tips to find activities that interest you:
- Volunteer. Volunteermatch.org has a nationwide database of opportunities in numerous areas.
- Meetup.com has groups all over the U.S. that are based around specific activities and areas of interest.
- Take a class. Check out local parks and recreation departments, libraries or national chain stores that offer how-to classes.
For more information about behavioral health programs offered by Floyd Behavioral Health
, call 706.509.3500 or our 24-hour help line at 1.800.365.3548.