24 people share the changes they made in their lives to improve their mental health

Mental health wasn’t a commonly discussed topic until a few years ago. Back then, it was whispered about or completely ignored due to misleading assumptions and taboos against it. Many silently lived with mental ailments because there was no one to support them and little information was available. Fortunately, a lot has changed in the recent past. Since mental health is a personal journey, different people benefit from different treatments. Experts can provide excellent guidance, but sometimes the most insightful advice comes from those who have experienced comparable difficulties. Mental health significantly impacts physical health, often in unexpected ways. Stress and anxiety can lead to physical symptoms as small as headaches and even chronic conditions like hypertension. Taking care of mental health is essential not just for emotional well-being but for overall physical health too.

For many people, online communities have become an essential source of inspiration, understanding and support. One such community is Reddit, where there are many honest discussions on various topics. @Dependent_Bit_8333 asked on Reddit, "What massively improved your mental health?" People shared their experiences and what has worked for them, giving us a glimpse into what can truly make a difference.

1. Self-love

Learning to love myself. A few years ago, I was in a very low spot with my self esteem, and I wanted to be better. My therapist and I talked a lot about treating myself like I would a friend. It sounds cheesy, but I started writing compliments to myself on post it notes in the morning and placing them on a mirror. It didn’t take too long before I started to believe them. It’s amazing how being nice to yourself and giving yourself grace can really improve your mental health. - u/SeaTonight4033

2. Exercise 

Exercise. Every single day (and outdoors for me, wherever possible). I coupled it with giving up alcohol (a couple of years back) and cutting out sugary crap. Massive improvement both physically and mentally. Bad diet and sedentary life styles are incredibly destructive. Now in my mid 50s, I look better than my mid 40s and there isn't any magic to how to do it (beyond "yes, it is OK to feel hungry"). - u/metametapraxis

3. Running

Daily running and daily meditation. I mean this RADICALLY transforms your mental health for the better in unseen ways, but the key is to stick with it for three months daily, no matter what, and start real small so you don’t get overwhelmed at all.
Start with half a mile of running daily if you aren’t a runner and meditate at first for only 10 or even five minutes to get started at first, eventually moving up to 20, maybe one day 30 minutes. I promise this will be incredible.-u/ZookeepergameStatus4

4. Staying true to yourself

Being the "bad guy," also known as prioritizing yourself. Having been a chronic people pleaser I was constantly drained and taken advantage of, I made a huge breakthrough when I realized I had to break up with my now ex. There is no escaping that some people will be disappointed with you, the question is, will you be disappointed in yourself. The right people in your life will be happy when you are, it's simple but it took me waaay too long to realize.- u/keeepre

5. Having a routine

Having a routine. No matter what my schedule is for the day, whenever I’m in a routine of getting up, getting dressed and taking a shower, I’m in a good place. Once I stop that routine, thinking I can just hang out in bed for just one day, I’m fu**ed. -u/elmatador12

6. Keeping tidy

Keeping my surroundings clean and organized. I'm not saying you gotta be able to eat off the carpet (although that's god tier sh*t) but keeping everything tidy, and in its place will help a whole lot. - u/SH4DEYBU5INESS

7. Having the right people around you 

Removing toxic people from my life. It's amazing how much your mental health can improve just by removing someone who brings nothing but negativity to your life. - u/crazylittlemermaid

8. Being calm

When I stopped being in a hurry. Urgency is a trauma response and with current American culture focused on everything happening immediately, it's easy to lose yourself to being in a hurry. - u/ rahyveshachr

9. Know your digital consumption

Becoming very mindful of the media I consume (tv shows, movies, etc.). I no longer watch anything that isn’t upbeat and it has really changed how I feel. - u/sugar182

10. Take your vitamins

Vitamin B Complex helps motivation when you’re deficient. Some vitamin supplements help physical health, which may allow you to do whatever you need: exercise, sleep, pain management. That all helps improve mental health. -u/geekpeeps

11. Motherhood

Unpopular answer, but my mental health got better after I had a baby. Not because motherhood made me happier, but because I have so much to do now and so much to show/teach my baby about life, that in order for them to be the best version of them, I have to be the best version of me. I get to relive life through my child’s experiences and as a mother I have an opportunity to right any wrongs that were inflicted on me by my own parents.- u/savageexplosive

12. Writing your feelings

Writing!! You don’t realize how much is ruminating up there until you take pen to paper. Been writing pretty much daily for almost a decade, an outlet that’s very near and dear to my heart. Other top things are spending time with nature and loved ones - and getting out of your bubble to try new things. - u/lukyspeed14

13. Take a stand for yourself

A few years back, I threatened to sue my landlord and filed a grievance against my boss. I’m very conflict-averse, and it took a lot for me to do both. Landlord and boss both backed down. It felt so liberating. Turns out you don’t have to let people walk all over you. Haven’t taken any shit ever since.- u/Plastic_Salary_4084

14. Get sober

Getting sober. It made my Schizophrenia become almost a non issue and overall I just live a happier life. I just wish I didn't have those relapse thoughts. - u/Stress-Princess-

15. Eat right and drink water

Honestly drinking water and watching sugar intake. I used to only drink soda or super sweet tea but I stopped and everything feels more clear mentally, I'm more hydrated and it's also an easy way to shed some weight too. I highly recommend cutting soda for anyone to feel better mentally and physically. I didn't cut it completely, I might have a vanilla coke once a month as a treat but that's it. -u/JoeDaOrc

16. Understanding your body

Understanding that my mood is chemicals. I’d reached the conclusion that my brain was wired to be unable to process happiness, and that life was something that I needed to endure for other people’s benefit. I took two doses of psilocybin and two doses of mdma and realized that my brain was capable of being happy. Obviously I can’t spend the rest of my life on mdma, but the understanding that a state of joy exists even in my mind was so inspiring it probably enabled me to keep going. It was a window into another world. -u/Unlikely_Ad6219

17. Meditation

I've meditated daily for the past 19 days. I'm not hunky-dory, but it has helped me a lot. - u/StockingDummy

18. Being comfortable in your skin

Just being comfortable in my own skin. I'm never going to have a six pack, I'm not going to develop a model-like smile, I'm not going to be charismatic, I'm not going to live a linear life, I'm not ashamed of myself. - u/Qoppa_Guy

19. Not being a people pleaser

Largely reducing my people pleaser tendencies, giving less of a sh*t what people think about me or how they perceive me and starting to speak up whenever I'm bothered by something or someone. -u/Famoustractordriver

20. Being in nature

Living around trees. Moved to a smaller town with my family last year. Cannot over emphasize how calming to the mind it is to look out any window and only see leaves gently swaying in the breeze. -u/Individual-Cover869

21. Look good for yourself

I can't stress enough, take care of your appearance, groom yourself, find an style that fits you and go for it, the emotional boost from looking at a mirror and see you good and handsome/pretty/cute/sexy is something else. -u/RayDemian

22. Cutting down alcohol

Less alcohol more exercise. Not cutting out drinking completely, just cutting back to maybe a couple once a week at most. For exercise, I try to do something like everyday but that’s probably not necessary. My sleep has been so much better. No need for medication or to self medicate. -u/jack0013

23. Making more money

Yes! Nothing helped me like getting a better job and financial security. There is SO much anxiety and depression when you are scrambling to pay every bill and pawning things for rent. It all got exponentially better with money. 
Money might not buy happiness but poverty sure can create misery. - u/Revolutionary-Yak-47

24. Self-awareness

I was an excessive over-apologizer. In therapy, my therapist helped me discover that I over apologized due to a fear of abandonment. When I apologized for everything, I was taking responsibility for everything, because it was easier to carry that weight than to risk losing people. Once I found the root of the issue, I began practicing not apologizing so much with a simple question. Anytime I felt the urge to apologize, I would ask myself what I am apologizing for. If I could not answer that question, I didn’t apologize. That small practice changed my life and was a catalyst for discovering other deep pains that I began to heal through therapy. -u/Evening_Dog