So what is the first thing that strikes your mind when we use the word Health? Most of our brains automatically think physical health — exercising, healthy eating, drinking water, etc. And while physical health does play a large role in keeping our bodies in shape and functioning properly, our mental health is just as important to maintain to achieve a healthy and happy lifestyle.
But sadly mental health is stigmatized, which arises from a lack of understanding of mental illness (ignorance and misinformation), and also because some people have negative attitudes or beliefs towards it (prejudice). This can lead to discrimination against people with mental illness.
People who are undergoing stress, anxiety, depression or any other emotional/behavioral issues does not want to go to a psychiatrist/psychologist with a fear of being labelled as “insane” or not accepted by the society.
The link between mental health and physical health is generally misunderstood because the mind and body are considered two separate entities, but often at times these two entities need to work together for our own wellbeing. Our mental health can directly affect our physical health and vice versa.
Let me put this across this way: “What is our immediate step when we come to know about our physical ailments like blood pressure, diabetes or any sort of infection in our body? We rush to our physicians, right. Then why is it so that when we feel depressed or are undergoing any other emotional discomfort we hesitate going to a Psychiatrist/Psychologist.
They are the ones who are the experts in dealing with such issues and get our lives back to normalcy. In fact if we leave such concerns unattended it may end up into physical ailments.
There is a strong link between mental health and physical health, but little is known about the pathways from one to the other.
- Depression has been linked to many chronic illnesses. These illnesses include diabetes, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis.
- Schizophrenia has also been linked to a higher risk of heart and respiratory diseases.
- People with mental health conditions are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders, like insomnia or sleep apnea.
To conclude, mental well-being is important for both the affected and the non-affected. It is important that awareness increases among the society so that the affected people feel more ‘at home’ and are not forced to give their life away. People should be aware of the consequences of mental illness and must give utmost importance to keeping the mind healthy like the way the physical body is kept healthy.
Mental and physical health cannot be separated from each other. And only when both are balanced can we call a person perfectly healthy and well. So, it is crucial for everyone to work towards achieving a balance between mental and physical wellbeing and seek the necessary help when required.
If you want to read more on stress management then please read here : https://soundminds.in/how-to-handle-stress/