Healing Inside and Out: The Profound Connection Between Mental and Physical Health
Many elements of wellness exist and can be prioritized differently based on values and lifestyle. Regardless of what elements of wellness are most important to you, there is no denying that physical and mental wellness are very much connected and a key component to overall health and wellbeing.
While both mental and physical health consist of their own components, they are also intertwined and greatly impact one another. Understanding this connection can help you to better understand healthy ways to cope with mental health struggles and more effective ways to take care of your mind and body at the same time.
Understanding the Mind-Body Connection:
The mind-body connection shows up in many ways but ultimately illustrates how the two are intertwined and greatly influence one another. Struggles within our mind often influence struggles within our body, and vice versa.
Depression and anxiety are two examples of mental struggles that can result in physical health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. The same is true reversed, as often chronic physical health conditions can lead to mental health struggles including depression and anxiety.
Although your mental and physical health can worsen simultaneously, they can also improve and strengthen simultaneously. Tending to your physical health can have a direct impact on improving your mental health. Engaging in physical activity and knowing you are making an effort to improve your physical health often increases your mental momentum and can change your overall outlook on health and growth.
When the roles are reversed and you work to strengthen your mental health, this can change your overall perspective, how you view physical activity, and increase self-esteem. This changed perspective can help you to prioritize your physical activity and thus improve your overall health.
When you are in a healthier place mentally, you also tend to care about your body more. This can result in more routine doctor’s visits, which can be both preventative and tending to current health issues that may otherwise worsen without attention. In tending to physical health issues and seeing improvements, this can improve your overall mindset.
The examples of how mental and physical health are intertwined can go on for days, but knowing the connection exists and knowing how you can benefit from this connection is key.
Benefitting From the Mind-Body Connection:
Below are areas to focus on that can allow you to tend to both your mental and physical health:
Sleep Hygiene:
Many studies show a healthy night’s rest consists of 7-8 hours.
Waking up and feeling well rested can affect energy levels and overall mindset.
Oversleeping or not getting enough hours can do the opposite and negatively affect your perspective and energy levels throughout the day.
Relaxation Techniques:
Engaging in breathing exercises, meditation, or mindfulness practices simultaneously assist in healthier mindset and increased physical strength.