Psychohygiene: the path to mental health

Psychohygiene, often called “mental hygiene”, is a set of rules and methods aimed at deepening or rediscovering a person’s mental health.

It provides guidance on how it is appropriate to adapt one’s lifestyle and environmental conditions in order to avoid adverse influences lurking in today’s environment, such as stress, constant rush, etc. In addition, a person should become more resistant and balanced against these influences, which generally contributes for preventive protection against psychological problems, which in extreme cases can also be reflected on the physical level of a person and manifest themselves, for example, in sweating, heart palpitations, etc.

Who is it intended for? 

As the first psychohygiene, it targets mentally healthy people and individuals on the borderline between health and illness. It brings stimuli that strengthen their health and stimuli that show a person how to effectively resist and fight against diseases, and that also help to find the causes of possible incipient difficulties. Last but not least, it is also necessary for people who already suffer from some mental illness – it can help them shorten their treatment time. Simply put, psychological hygiene is needed by all of  us!

The problem of psychohygiene of an adult

Actually, it would simply be enough if today’s “adults” thought about themselves and made only minor adjustments in their lives. Some are unsuccessful simply because they do not know how to organize their lives. Others have set too high goals that do not match their abilities and skills.

Psychohygiene is very closely related to a person’s value system , and each of us, at the latest in adulthood, should clarify for himself what is important to him, what to prioritize and where he will direct his efforts next.

Methods and rules of psychohygiene

Different methods and rules of psychohygiene should be kept in mind continuously, at any time of the day, even when a person feels well and satisfied. Thus, the individual constantly works to maintain his psychological balance and mental health. However, if he finds himself in a life crisis situation, putting them into practice is more than desirable.

Among the types of psychohygienic methods and rules we can include, for example:

• meditation (if you are interested, you can learn more in our article “Meditation: how to achieve positive effects, and which type to choose?” )
• mindfulness (you can learn more in our article “Mindfulness: meditation as a path to mental well-being” )
• healthy communication and dealings with people
• daily mode – time management
• proper nutrition
• active movement
• enough sleep

Psychohygiene as appropriate protection of mental health 

Mental health has a direct effect on physical health. Many diseases begin with a disturbance of mental balance. These diseases include, in particular, civilizational diseases typical of today, which are primarily caused by uncontrollable factors, which can be classified as: 

• sex
• family history

They are also influenced by variable factors that can certainly be influenced by following the rules of psychohygiene. These are, for example:

• above-average consumption of high-calorie foods, sugar, coffee and alcohol
• lack of movement

The most common diseases of civilization include vascular disease, diabetes and also various psychological problems such as depression, fatigue syndrome, burnout syndrome and  others. 

Other factors

Other reasons demonstrating the importance of mental health include the social realm of a person. It is proven that interpersonal relationships strengthen resistance to stress and excessive load, and the inclusion of a person in the social structure is thus another important factor of psychological well-being and health.

An individual who is not completely mentally healthy represents a possible risk to these relationships. Neurotic behavior is socially very contagious , and moreover, the behavior of an unbalanced individual often injures and exhausts the people closest to him, most emotionally bound to him – most often from married or family life. 

It can therefore be said in summary that the general condition of mental health is an internally harmonious assertive personality with high self-confidence living in positive relationships. Basic mental health criteria include:

• realistic self-concept and tendency towards self-actualization.
• internal integration based on a unified concept of the world and oneself – and one’s place in the world (the meaning of life).
• autonomy – relative independence from the external environment and its management.

What to take from it? 

Psychohygiene contains a set of rules that deepen or help to rediscover a person’s mental health. Mental hygiene provides guidance on how to appropriately adjust your lifestyle in order to protect yourself from the negative influences of your environment. It is suitable for absolutely everyone, whether a person is healthy or sick.

Psychohygiene has its own rules and methods, which if a person practices honestly and continuously, should guarantee perfect prevention and the subsequent resistance and balance of his psychological life.