The connection between Mental & Physical Health

...like our physical pain, our psychological pain is not necessarily always bad or undesirable. - Mark Manson

Life is certainly not always easy or great. Sometimes it can feel like everything is going awry, often all at once. Most people have experienced this phenomenon on more than one occasion at any stage in life. Truthfully, there can be no physical health without mental health, as both are equally important in overall health (CDC, 2023). Physical health can have a positive or negative influence on mental health.

Over time, each person will notice a change in their own mental and physical health. This is very normal, and depends on a number of factors (ex. lengthy work hours, providing support for a family member, socio-economic status).

There are a number of ways mental health can affect physical health. These include low motivation, concentration or planning difficulties, genetics, refusal of medical care, and lack of support in crisis. Some mental illnesses are also linked with physical  symptoms, such as fatigue, insomnia, digestive issues, or headaches. In truth, poor mental health increases the risk of getting chronic physical Illness and vice versa. For this reason, finding balance in all aspects of health is necessary for daily life.

An important factor of managing your mental health is building resilience. This allows you to cope when met with unexpected challenges or abrupt changes that interrupt your daily life. Resilient people use inner strength and circumstance to combat challenges and are able to better manage stress. Building resilience also aids in strengthening and broadening coping skills.

Tips for balancing physical and mental health:

1. Stay connected to your interests - books, going outdoors, catching up with friends or family

2. Get creative - baking, art activities, writing, learning something new

3. Become active - walking, yoga, dance, swimming

4. Create healthy habits - staying hydrated, eating balanced meals, prioritizing self care

5. Switching off - setting boundaries, putting down all electronic devices, meditating

It's important to have knowledge on how to make your quality of life better. We hope you find this information insightful and encouraging. Please feel free to contact us if you want to share your experience or have any psychology or neuroscience related questions.

Remember to Be Kind to your Mind, your Mental Health is Important.

~ Mind IT