KERLIN: Mind health, mental wellness in the wisdom years

Have you ever considered what it means to have a healthy mind or how to keep your mind healthy? May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it is a good time to consider what you are feeding your mind and how you are taking care of it.  

We now know that our brain continues to form neural connections all life long, so what you think, feel and do are literally forming pathways in your brain. The more you do and the more active you are, the more active your brain is. 

Our mind describes all the conscious and unconscious processes associated with the brain — our concentration, judgment, memory, thoughts, feelings, behaviors, attention, intellect and attitude. A healthy mind is able to think clearly, concentrate in a focused way, feel and express feelings in an appropriate way, recall events and information from your short-term and long-term memory and control behaviors and thoughts to focus on desired outcomes. 

Just as other organs in our body can get sick, our brain can also become sick with illnesses ranging from depression and anxiety to dementia. If you, or someone you know, is dealing with depression, anxiety or dementia, please consult a health professional.  Many treatments are available to provide relief and restore health. To learn more about brain diseases and prevention, visit www.aarp.org/brainhealth.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or is in danger of harming themselves, please call the national suicide prevention line 988 from anywhere in the country.
Here are a few self-care practices to help keep your brain healthy and well:

• Thoughts: What we focus on magnifies. Practice focusing your mind where you want it to go. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things” (Phil 4:8). 

Be aware of your own self-talk and what you are telling yourself. If it’s not something you would say to someone you love, then give yourself that same courtesy. Practice talking to yourself as the precious child of God you are. 

Keep learning and engaging in mentally stimulating activities like reading and doing puzzles. Lifelong learning strengthens your brain’s reserves and helps offset age-related changes.

• Feelings: Identifying and expressing feelings appropriately is an important part of health. “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15).
• Behaviors: The basic healthy lifestyle practices of eating well, getting enough sleep and keeping your body moving are a good place to start with brain health behaviors. Staying socially connected to others is important and helps to prevent depression and anxiety. Get your hearing checked. Did you know that hearing loss is linked to dementia? When you strain to hear, your brain has to work harder, and that can cause cognitive overload. †

Kristine Kerlin is the director of the Office of Aging.