Emerging adulthood is a crucial life transition with many significant changes, especially for those with mental health conditions. Dealing with so much during this time is complicating and can cause a great amount of stress and anxiety along with various mental health conditions. Some people have a harder time in this period of life than others and if not taken seriously their mental health can be negatively affected.
During this time, you may be dealing with self-esteem issues, stress, anxiety, depression, and may not know how to cope well with these things. Some emerging adults do not have great social support from friends and family. During emerging adulthood, ages 18-25, many people have higher expectations for themselves than they should which can lead for more prevalence of mental health disorders.
This time in life is very important to gain and create a sense of self and with who you are and want to be. Take advantage of this time to fully understand who you are and how to manage your health and well-being.
Steps to support your mental health during emerging adulthood:
- Create resilience
During this time, you will face many changes and obstacles. Resilience will allow you to adapt to these changes. To build resilience, surround yourself with supportive people, give back to the community, and work on your goals.
- Create goals
Goals are very important in emerging adulthood. Without goals you may struggle more with transitions. Goals help us have a sense of purpose and encourages us to accomplish new things.
- Remain flexible
Flexibility is key during this phase of life. You must be open and willing to accept change to grow into who you are meant to be. Emerging adulthood is filled with ups and downs and decisions that will be unexpected, be flexible to create a path that is right for you.
Show others the importance of working on their mental health. Create groups to work on mental health together by having hobbies, getting outside, exploring new places etc. Providing a safe space to explore together with support can make a huge difference.
- Seek counseling
Counseling can be a huge step but can greatly benefit your mental health. There are many alternative therapies as well if you are uncomfortable with talk therapy at first. Allow yourself to open up in order to learn and grow. Your future self will thank you.
Things to remember:
- Find a new hobby
- Get enough exercise
- Volunteer in your community
- Get outside
- Eat healthy
- Create goals
- Work on self-care
- Journal your thoughts and emotions
- Be aware of the signs of struggling mental health
- Support others that support you
- Spread kindness
There is no right or wrong path. We are all on this journey to learn and grow from each other. No one is going to live your exact life and can understand what exactly you go through. Create a life that you want to live and be willing to work on your mental and physical health and well-being. Some of us have a harder time in emerging adulthood than others. This is okay, just focus on the things that you can do for yourself such as creating resilience, creating, and achieving goals, advocating for mental health, and seeking help!
A trained counselor can be very beneficial when dealing with such large life transitions and changes. It may feel at times that life is being thrown at you and that you may not be prepared for these things. A therapist can help provide you the tools to feel more confident in handling these life changes.
Have faith in yourself during this time that you are capable of great things. Remember to create goals, work on self-care, journal your thoughts and emotions, support others that support you, and most of all, spread kindness.
