Staying healthy is a major priority in many people’s lives. And parents want to do all they can to promote good health in their children. There is a lot of health advice out there, but much of it is just for the body. As researchers continue to look at what influences our health, we’re finding that physical and emotional well-being are more closely linked than we realized. A person can suffer if his or her physical and emotional well-being is out of balance.
How Mental and Physical Health Are Related?
The difference between physical and emotional well-being is not as simple as you would think. For years, researchers have been trying to figure out how physical and emotional well-being interact? The answer is predictably complicated. But we do know that mental illness has a direct and indirect effect on physical health. Examine some of the concrete ways your body and mind interact with one another.
1. Depression
Depression, the most common mental illness in the United States, affects more than just mood and inspiration. It may have a direct effect on the immune system by suppressing T-cell responses to viruses and bacteria, making it possible to get sick and stay sick for longer periods of time. A weakened immune system can also cause allergies or asthma to become more severe.
Some research suggests that it may be the other way around, with the immune system causing depression. Stress — especially chronic type- causes an immune reaction within the brain itself. The inflammatory reaction may be a contributing cause to depression.
A new research on immune inflammation and depression used mice to manipulate immune receptors. The researchers stressed the mice repeatedly and found that stress caused the mouse brains to release cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that are associated with inflammation. And their release caused damage in the medial prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain that is important in depression. In other words, the researchers were able to trigger depressive symptoms as a result of the immune system’s reaction to stress.
A strong immune system is a sign of good physical health. But stress raises the risk of depression. Depression can weaken the immune system, resulting in a discouraging cycle.
This report illustrates that certain health issues have both a physical and a mental elements.
2. Mental Illness and Fatigue
Depression, anxiety, and other mood disturbances are often associated with symptoms of tiredness and fatigue. Some people inappropriately suggest that “it’s all in your head.” But evidence shows that this is not the case. Being mentally exhausted leads to physical exhaustion.
Participants in a study conducted by Bangor University in Wales, United Kingdom, were told to ride a stationary bike until they were exhausted. They described exhaustion as the inability to maintain a rate of 60 revolutions per minute for five seconds or more.
The test was given to participants in two separate situations. In one situation, they rode the bike as normal. In the second setup, participants first completed a 90-minute task that included elements of memory, fast reactions, and inhibiting impulsive responses to stimuli.
Participants reported feeling tired and a bit listless after completing the mental challenge. Most importantly, the participants hit the stage of exhaustion 15% earlier.
Mental disease is closely related to fatigue. And chronic tiredness can quickly lead to declines in physical health. If anyone is excessively depressed or stressed, they are less likely to exercise and, if they do, they are more likely to quit early. Fatigue caused by mental illness can also interfere with basic hygiene, raising vulnerability to disease.
3. Anger, Anxiety and Heart Health
Anger outbursts and anxiety-related stress are both harmful to the heart. An Australian research set out to see if acute emotions, like those seen in a film, can cause heart attacks — and, unfortunately, the trope is true.
Dr. Thomas Buckley, the study’s lead author, said that episodes of intense anger will act as a cause for a heart attack.
A person’s risk of heart attack increases by 8.5 times in the two hours following a bout of intense anger, which the study described as tense body language, clenched fists or teeth, and feeling of ready to burst.
Anxiety increases the risk of a heart attack by 9.5 times in the next two hours. While most teenagers are unlikely to have a heart attack, the anger and anxiety associated with impulse control disorders can have a negative effect on their growing hearts.
How to balance your physical and emotional well-being?
It’s hard, but calming down and simplifying routines can help you balance your mental and physical health.
1. Value yourself
Be kind and respectful of yourself, and stop self-criticism. Allow time for your favorite interests and ventures, as well as expanding your eyes to the world. Start a lawn, learn to dance, play an instrument, or learn a new language.
2. Take care of your body
Taking care of your body can help your mental health. Be sure to:
- Eat healthy meals
- Avoid smoking and vaping
- Drink lots of water
- Exercise, which can reduce stress and anxiety and improves moods
- Have enough sleep. Lack of sleep, according to researchers, leads to a high rate of depression in college students.
3. Learn how to cope with stress by doing the following
Stress is an unavoidable fact of life, whether you like it or not. Improve your coping abilities by doing the following: try Stress Strategies, Tai Chi, yoga, a nature walk, playing with your pet, or journal writing. Also, remember to smile and look for the humor of life. Laughter has been shown in studies to improve the immune system, relieve pain, calm the body, and reduce stress.
4. Set realistic goals
Decide what you want to do academically, professionally, and privately. And then write down the steps you need to take to get there. Aim high, but be practical and don’t over-schedule. When you work on your goal, you’ll feel a great sense of success and self-worth.
5. Break up the monotony
Our habits help us be more efficient and increase our feelings of comfort and stability. But a change of pace can liven up a tedious schedule. Change your jogging route, go for a road trip, go for a walk in a different park, hang some new pictures, or try a new restaurant.
6. Avoid alcohol and other drugs
Limit your alcohol intake and avoid other drugs. Many times, people use alcohol and other drugs to “sanity.” But in fact, alcohol and other drugs just aggravate problems.
7. If you fall down, get back up
Resilience in the face of adversity is a mental and physical gift that keeps on giving.
8. Go out and play
Ensure a good balance between work and play. Yes, work is beneficial and it pays the bills. Taking time out for relaxation and socializing, on the other hand, is beneficial to both your mental and physical wellbeing.
9. Get some exercise
According to a report, exercise increases mood and has many physical health benefits.
10. See the right doctor, regularly
Going to the right doctor will make or break your overall health, especially if you have a complicated problem that requires the help of a specialist. However, if your emotions are suffering, you should consider seeing a mental health specialist.
The Bottom Line
Counseling, support groups, and medications can all benefit those who are suffering from many problems of physical and emotional well-being. Consult the doctor if you have an ongoing physical and emotional well-being problem. He or she may help you in finding the appropriate type of treatment.
