Recuro Behavioral Health Offers Virtual Psychiatry & Counseling That Can Lighten Your “Mental Load”
1 in 5 Americans suffers from a mental illness. [1] In fact, Almost 6 in 10 people with mental illness get no treatment or medication. [2] Thankfully, Recuro Health provides our patients with the tools to help improve their mental well-being.
Have you ever considered the weight of your daily responsibilities? Not just what’s in the forefront of your mind, but everything you have to manage day in and day out. This collective burden is what we call your “mental load.” Recognizing your own mental load is crucial. If it’s causing you stress, it can take a toll on both your mental and physical well-being. Mental load refers to the cognitive effort you invest in managing a task. This effort is influenced by everything else that occupies your thoughts. Your mental load can encompass various aspects of life, such as relationships, work, health, and home responsibilities. Each of us carries our unique mental load, and how we handle it can vary greatly.
Diverse Perspectives
A seemingly straightforward task can elicit vastly different emotional responses from different individuals. One person might perform a task while thinking about calling their dad, scheduling a vet appointment, organizing an office party, and preparing for a family visit. Meanwhile, someone else performing the same task might be pondering an upcoming medical appointment, unresolved debt, or the health of a family member. These individuals bear distinct mental loads, and their feelings toward these loads can also diverge. This is where understanding the differences between health equity and equality is so important. Anxiety-prone individuals may find their mental load more stressful than those who don’t experience anxiety. Add on social/economic factors including poverty, education, and living conditions and the mental load of individuals can be vastly different.
Lightening Your Load
If you sense that your plate is already overflowing, consider what you can remove from it. Reducing your mental load can help alleviate stress. And if you simply need someone to talk to, our Behavioral Health services are available 24/7 from the comfort of your home.
Recognizing Stress
It’s essential to identify ongoing stress in your life, as it can negatively impact your cognitive performance. Just as we can overexert ourselves physically, the same is true for our mental well-being. Prolonged stress may lead to various issues, including:
- Digestive problems
- Headaches
- Unintentional weight loss or gain
- Problems concentrating
- Lost sleep – difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Muscle tension
- Digestive problems
- Reduced libido
Easing Your Mental Load
If your mental load is taking a toll on you, consider the following steps:
- Prioritize adequate sleep. Patients should receive between 7-9hours of sleep each night.
- Connect with others.
- Embrace nature – a walk, hike, or simply immersing yourself in the world around you can be refreshing.
- Maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
- Take short breaks – even just 10 minutes can improve your mental well-being.
- Limit tobacco and alcohol consumption.
- Discuss your concerns with someone – our Recuro Behavioral Health services is a valuable resource.
Seeking Therapy & Psychiatry
Recuro Behavioral Health (https://recurohealth.com/virtual-behavioral-health/) is here to support your mental health. You can even set a same-week appointment (depending on provider availability). Schedule your first consult today: https://member.recurohealth.com/.
(1, 2) Source: https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/mental-health-statistics
