Thoughts and emotions, stress and anxiety, happiness and sadness. These mental processes have a profound effect on both an individual’s mental health and physical well-being. The mind is an organ that is connected to the entire body. This means that our emotions, thoughts, and feelings can all affect how our body performs. When we think of someone having great emotional health, it means they are aware of their thoughts and feelings and can communicate them positively, fostering great relationships with other people.
However, even for the healthiest mind, life is unexpected. As we all know, many things can happen that negatively impact your emotional health. Stress, anxiety, anger, and sadness will likely all occur at some point in everyone’s lives. Stressful and traumatic events such as being fired, a death in the family, divorce, illness, moving to a new home, or financial issues can all bring about unwanted and sometimes chronic stress.
Emotions and especially stress affect your physical health in a variety of different ways. Our body responds to stress the same way whether it is running from a bear or losing a job. Our brain floods our bodies with cortisol (a stress hormone) and adrenaline. This is great for short term responses, but chronic stress and anxiety can lead to physical effects from these elevated hormones. For instance, during times of stress, some people develop ulcers or high blood pressure. For others, some develop chest pains from anxiety. Others may develop acne on their faces, or lose sleep and appetite. However, just like the way negative emotions affect our bodies negatively, positive thoughts can improve our health in many ways, including lowering our bodies stress response.
Some ways to improve your emotional health:
- Communicate and express feelings to people around you. It is always best to be honest if you are feeling stress or anxiety, but if it’s causing physical problems, it is a good idea to seek professional help.
- Keep a gratitude journal. Studies have shown if you write down 5 things a day that you are grateful for, it promotes positive thoughts which leads to positive feelings and emotional health. Performing small acts of kindness for others can also greatly elevate your mood.
- Practice self-care. Exercise, eat a balanced diet, and get enough sleep. Sleep is so important to a healthy mind. It will go a long way for your emotional and physical health.
- Calm your mind. Meditation, guided imagery, and Tai Chi are just some ideas of relaxing practices that will ease your mind. Studies have shown relaxation and breathing techniques can change how your brain deals with external events.
Florida Ketamine Therapy Clinic
Please note, if you are having symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, back pain, and/or insomnia, it is best to seek help from a professional. Treatments that are available include psychotherapy, antidepressants, and ketamine infusions to help those suffering from severe mental health conditions. Contact New Horizon Tallahassee Ketamine clinic today!