This Works | Beder
Did you know, 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem each year?
Mental health issues are extremely common yet the conversation surrounding them remains stigmatised which is why this Mental Health Awareness Week we’ve partnered with Beder, a charity raising awareness and normalising the conversation around these issues.
The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is nature. Spending time in nature has a proven positive effect on our mental health, calming negative feelings and improving our sense of wellbeing.
Beder are challenging everyone to step outside and go for a walk this week.#NotJustAnotherWalk, though. A walk somewhere where you can really enjoy nature, like a national park or nature trail. Why? Being in nature is the perfect place to check in, with yourself or with a loved one. The calming environment will clear your mind and allow you to be honest about your emotions.
While we can’t control many of the things that cause us feelings of stress or anxiety (annoying, we know) we can have some control over our body’s response to them. Breathwork involves breathing in a conscious and systematic way. If you can get your breathing to leave a stressed state, the rest of the autonomic nervous system will follow suit, creating a chain reaction that can help to reduce those feelings of stress and anxiety.
Try box breathing (in for four, hold for four, out for four, hold for four and repeat) or head to @beder_uk for a guided session with a trained breathwork coach.
Dedicating time to yourself and your idea of self-care is important, whether that’s taking a long, hot bath or spending time working out. It’s true that self-care alone won’t act as an instant solution to poor mental health but sticking to a routine in which you give yourself time for things that soothe is a great step in prioritising your mental wellbeing.
Want to find out more about Beder and the work they do to raise awareness and normalise the conversation around mental health and suicide prevention? Follow them on Instagram @beder_uk or visit their website, www.beder.org.uk
protocols1 min readflip into focus with cyclical hyperventilationCyclical hyperventilation is an effective controlled breathing exercise that can ‘rev up’ and ‘slow down’ the nervous system.read post
protocols1 min readbreathwork techniques for stress reliefCalm the nervous system with breathwork techniques that help take the body from ‘fight or flight’ to ‘rest and digest’.read post
