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Try these tips to keep your balance, or re-balance yourself.*

1. Value yourself:

Treat yourself with kindness and respect, and avoid self-criticism. Make time for your hobbies and favorite projects, or broaden your horizons. Do a daily crossword puzzle, plant a garden, take dance lessons, learn to play an instrument or become fluent in another language.

2. Take care of your body:

Taking care of yourself physically can improve your mental health. Be sure to:

Eat nutritious meals

Avoid smoking and vaping-- see Cessation Help

Drink plenty of water

Exercise, which helps decrease depression and anxiety and improve moods

Get enough sleep. Researchers believe that lack of sleep contributes to a high rate of depression in college students.

3. Surround yourself with good people:

People with strong family or social connections are generally healthier than those who lack a support network. Make plans with supportive family members and friends, or seek out activities where you can meet new people, such as a club, class or support group.

4. Give yourself:

Volunteer your time and energy to help someone else. You'll feel good about doing something tangible to help someone in need - and it's a great way to meet new people. See Fun and Cheap Things to do in Ann Arbor for ideas.

5. Learn how to deal with stress:

Like it or not, stress is a part of life. Practice good coping skills: Try One-Minute Stress Strategies, do Tai Chi, exercise, take a nature walk, play with your pet or try journal writing as a stress reducer. Also, remember to smile and see the humor in life. Research shows that laughter can boost your immune system, ease pain, relax your body and reduce stress.

6. Quiet your mind:

Try meditating, Mindfulness and/or prayer. Relaxation exercises and prayer can improve your state of mind and outlook on life. In fact, research shows that meditation may help you feel calm and enhance the effects of therapy. To get connected, see spiritual resources on Personal Well-being for Students

7. Set realistic goals:

Decide what you want to achieve academically, professionally and personally, and write down the steps you need to realize your goals. Aim high, but be realistic and don't over-schedule. You'll enjoy a tremendous sense of accomplishment and self-worth as you progress toward your goal. Wellness Coaching, free to U-M students, can help you develop goals and stay on track.

8. Break up the monotony:

Although our routines make us more efficient and enhance our feelings of security and safety, a little change of pace can perk up a tedious schedule. Alter your jogging route, plan a road-trip, take a walk in a different park, hang some new pictures or try a new restaurant. See Rejuvenation 101 for more ideas.

9. Avoid alcohol and other drugs:

Keep alcohol use to a minimum and avoid other drugs. Sometimes people use alcohol and other drugs to "self-medicate" but in reality, alcohol and other drugs only aggravate problems. For more information, see Alcohol and Other Drugs.

10. Get help when you need it:

Seeking help is a sign of strength - not a weakness. And it is important to remember that treatment is effective. People who get appropriate care can recover from mental illness and addiction and lead full, rewarding lives. See Resources for Stress and Mental Health for campus and community resources.
*Adapted from the National Mental Health Association/National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

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Try these tips to keep your balance, or re-balance yourself.

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https://search.proquest.com/docview/2028102716?pq-origsite=summon

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https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0017896916662075?utm_source=summon&utm_medium=discovery-provider&

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Mood Lifters - A revolutionary, new mental wellness program that will guide you to a more joyful and healthy life.

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Mood Lifters is a peer led, science based program designed to improve mental wellness and decrease sadness and anxiety. Mood Lifters weaves together the most effective biological, psychological and social techniques, based on cutting-edge research, to provide strategies that people can use to make changes, develop healthy habits and live the life they want.

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https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A506957472/OVIC?u=lom_emichu&sid=OVIC&xid=f4b428ec

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https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0017896916662075?utm_source=summon&utm_medium=discovery-provider&

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It has been suggested that mental health promotion should take place in the everyday settings where individuals live their lives.
Many people may feel embarrassed and they had quite negative views about people with mental illness. They don’t mean to be like that; just that they thought it was something you would have forever and that you couldn’t work or have a family or anything. It just opened their eyes to that completely.

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70% of people report feeling stress and over 30% report symptoms of anxiety and depression, yet many people do not feel comfortable visiting a psychologist or psychiatrist to get help, cannot afford the high cost of traditional mental health care or can’t find well trained providers who provide evidence-based care.
Mood Lifters is not medical care or traditional therapy. The power to make positive changes resides within you. We just offer you the strategies. You are in control and call the shots. The Mood Lifters program involves a series of weekly meetings that you will attend with a peer-leader and small group of members.

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1) Seek help, don't try to figure stuff out on your own. You aren't alone.
2) Do what's best for you do not take pills,  to "ease" the pain.
3) At EMU you can talk to a counselor through  the counseling and psychological services (CAPS). You can call them at 734-487-1118
4) Call they national suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255
5) Surround yourself with positive people and eat healthy meals.
6) Set yourself goals to achieve