If you’ve been diagnosed with a mental illness, you may find it difficult to venture outside of your comfort zone. There are many reasons this can be true for people, and how people experience their mental health issues varies greatly by person. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, serious mental illnesses affect one in 25 Americans. These may include people who suffer from bipolar disorder, have major depression, or are affected by schizophrenia. Across the United States, psychiatrists diagnose and treat patients with those illnesses every day. Know that you are not alone, and there are ways you can mitigate those feelings of isolation. It may not be a cure, but it can help to temporarily alleviate symptoms.

Walk Daily

Whether you walk 15 minutes on a treadmill or around the block, getting your body moving can help your mental and physical state. Walking is a low-impact exercise that has a positive psychological effect. It can boost endorphins, which ease anxiety and reduce stress.

Make Connections

While it may not be easy, it’s essential to connect with other people when you’re feeling isolated. What’s more important is to make healthy connections. Whether you build relationships with family members or friends, the connections you make should bring encouragement and support to your life. They should also afford you the opportunity to encourage and support others.

Work Toward a Goal

Depression and other mental illnesses can make functioning at work and at home difficult. If you can set a realistic goal and work towards it, the journey will help you grow toward a more positive outlook. While setting goals is not a cure, it is a way to navigate toward better mental health.

Talk to Your Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists can answer the questions and concerns you have about your diagnosed mental illness. In a conversation with your psychiatrist, you can find out information about symptoms, treatments, and side effects. Psychiatrists may provide the emotional support you need from a professional who understands your needs and your feelings of isolation.

When you’re socially isolated, it weighs heavily on your mental health. You may feel depression creep in, feel increased anxiety, and experience insomnia. Taking steps to combat isolation can go a long way to helping you positively cope with your mental illness and function better in your everyday lives. If you’re struggling, contact SouthEnd Psychiatry today. We would love to help.