Five Ways to Prioritize Your Mental Health in the New Year

Five Ways to Prioritize Your Mental Health in the New Year

Almost 70 million adults say they want to improve their mental health in 2022, according to a poll by the American Psychiatric Association. That means one in every four people is thinking about how to be healthy, not just in their body, but in their mind.

This isn’t all that surprising, given the challenging times that characterize 2020 and 2021. But still, it’s encouraging to hear. A new year symbolizes a time to re-evaluate, try new things, and, for some, change direction completely or even start over.

As a medical doctor with double board certification in General Adult Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Paul Wright sees many individuals looking for help in navigating life. Whether it’s stress and anxiety, issues with focus and motivation or depression and suicidal thoughts, partnering with a trusted mental health professional is a wise place to start.

As we step into a new year, let’s look at five simple ways you can prioritize your mental health in the coming year.

Five Easy Ways to Put Your Mental Health First

  1. Set realistic goals. If you want to become healthier in 2022, set small goals and begin working on them. Instead of saying, “I want to lose 30 pounds this year”, make a list of small commitments you can make (and keep!) that will move you toward that goal.
    Resolve to: Walk the dog three times a week. Cut back on sweets. Drink a glass of water before eating any meal. All of these small practices can add up to big change!
  2. Feed your mind. Many studies show that your mental health is closely linked to your gut health. Reducing inflammation in the digestive tract can help your body produce more serotonin, which plays a big role in mood, appetite and sleep.
    Resolve to: Cut back on processed foods and replace one daily snack with a piece of fruit or some chopped-up raw veggies.
  3. Prioritize sleep. Getting enough shut-eye is important for both your physical and mental health. People who suffer from insomnia are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than people who are well rested.
    Resolve to: Put away all electronic devices 30 minutes before bedtime and aim to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.
  4. Carve out time for self-care. Thanks to things like a 24/7 news cycle, the ability to be plugged-in at all times, the COVID-19 pandemic, political unrest, racial tensions and a host of other contributors, Americans are more stressed out than ever before. And this reality makes self-care more important than ever.
    Resolve to: Prioritize downtime for yourself. Take a bubble bath, pray or meditate, listen to music you enjoy, go for a walk.
  5. Get the help you need and deserve. Sometimes, no amount of trying or perspective-taking can get you out of a slump. It is perfectly okay to seek professional help. There’s no reason to suffer in silence!
    Resolve to: Find a trusted mental health professional who can help you.

Meet Dr. Paul Wright

Are you looking for a partner dedicated to a holistic approach to your mental health? A practice that embraces leading-edge approaches that explore how biology and personality factor into navigating and overcoming mental health challenges?

Say hello to IntegrityMind Psychiatry. Dr. Paul Wright, founder of IntegrityMind Psychiatry, offers Holistic Help for the Whole You. Dr. Wright is a medical doctor with specialization and double board certification in General Adult Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree in Public Health.

Dr. Wright offers flexible options for both in-person sessions and secure online sessions. Our brick-and-mortar offices are in Grapevine and Plano, Texas. IntegrityMind works with children, adolescents and adults with an interconnected approach for families.

The IntegrityMind Difference

Dr. Wright’s unique approach is refreshing, rooted in science, compassionate, comprehensive and hopeful. Some might also even describe it as refreshingly old-fashioned.

How can something be leading-edge and old-fashioned at the same time? Great question. Leading-edge approaches, old-fashioned care. The way Dr. Wright cares for his patients feels like the kind of care you might have received decades ago when house calls were common. Where your doctor looked you in the eye, taking the time and asking the questions required to dig deeply into the issue at hand.

This more in-depth approach takes time. Investment. Attention. Three things Dr. Wright is committed to giving each patient he works with. Sessions with Dr. Wright are relaxed, comfortable, unrushed and purposeful. This is the IntegrityMind way.

Practical Help for a Better Life

At IntegrityMind Psychiatry, we know that people are wonderfully unique, with their own life map and personality. So we don’t over-focus on a specific diagnosis or rush to label people. While a diagnosis can be helpful in gaining a better understanding of a condition and finding the right treatment, our focus is less on a label and more on practical help for an improved life.

Dr. Wright sees people for help with issues including:

  • Addiction Issues
  • Depression/Anxiety
  • ADHD
  • Navigating Life Transitions
  • Relationship Challenges
  • PTSD
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Schizophrenia

At the heart of serving your mental health needs, we strive to offer help. And hope. IntegrityMind is Holistic Help for the Whole You. As we welcome 2022, we’d be honored to partner with you in helping you step into living your best life. Please reach out to schedule an initial consultation.