Thriving Together: Your Guide to Physical and Mental Wellness

Before going into the blog, Let me introduce myself to you , I am Jahnavi Mareedu and I am from Andhra Pradesh a state of combination of great history and spiritual mythology and the place where the most critical and awesome language called Telugu is used. I am a student of Amity university Jaipur , trying to give some information about Physical and Mental Health.

Physical and Mental health: 

    Physical and Mental health

What is Physical Health?

Physical health represents one aspect of total well-being. The term refers to the state of your physical body and how well it is operating. To maintain a good physical health, there are activities that you can do: exercise, eat well, and sleep. Being physically healthy also helps you to manage life's challenges by protecting you against fatigue, injury and illness.

What is Mental Health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Relationship Between Physical and Mental Health -

As per the research conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health problems are more likely to stem from a poor health condition, than any other aspects. Here are some of the well-known, but commonly ignored physical health factors. Take note of these factors to improve your physical and mental health and try to better them for your holistic health approach

How Mental Health Affects Physical Health:

There is a vast difference between ‘mind’ and ‘body.’ Yet, when considering mental health and physical health, the two cannot be viewed as separate. Poor mental health has adverse effects on the outcomes of a person’s life. Mental illness varies from anxiety and depression to eating disorders and schizophrenia, varying greatly in problem and severity. Any given mental disorder may affect your body’s ability to work correctly and may even decrease life expectancy.

When one is suffering from psychological issues; be it stress, anxiety, or depression, the brain sends signals to the body differently. For example, in stressful conditions, some hormonal disturbances occur. This is because our body runs on the command of our brain, which is our mental health.

This can be for a variety of reasons, including:

• genetics – the genes that make it more likely that you will develop a mental health problem may also play a part in physical health problems

• low motivation – some mental health problems or medications can affect your energy or motivation to take care of yourself

• difficulty with concentration and planning – you may find it hard to arrange or attend medical appointments if your mental health problem affects your concentration

• lack of support to change unhealthy behaviour – healthcare professionals may assume you’re not capable of making changes, so won’t offer any support to cut down on drinking or give up smoking, for example

• being less likely to receive medical help – healthcare professionals may assume your physical symptoms are part of your mental illness and not investigate them further. People with a mental illness are less likely to receive routine checks (like blood pressure, weight and cholesterol) that might detect symptoms of physical health conditions earlier.

What can you do to help yourself?

Exercise

Physical Activity is a great way to keep you physically healthy as well as improving your mental wellbeing. Research shows that doing exercise releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins in the brain. Even a short burst of 10 minutes brisk walking can improve your mental alertness, energy and mood.

Eat well

Eating well can improve your wellbeing and your mood. A balanced diet is one that includes healthy amounts of proteins, essential fats, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. The food we eat can influence the development, management and prevention of numerous mental health conditions including depression and dementia.

Stop smoking

Smoking has a negative impact on both mental and physical health. Many people with mental health problems believe that smoking relieves their symptoms, but these effects are only short-term. It’s never too late to quit, and there is now a lot of support available to help you give up.

HOW TO HELP SOMEBODY WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION

First Things First - Get The Facts

Get woke! Find out more about depression, anxiety, and mental health to help you better understand what your friend is going through.

Next - Be There

Often it’s not going to be the advice that you give your friend or loved one that makes the difference. But rather, just you being there when they need someone the most. Here are nine guidelines to help you make the best use of that time - we call them TALK, LISTEN, and TELL.

TALK:

Help your friend feel at ease in your presence

1. Calmness is Comforting

Don’t panic, you’ll only add on to theirs

2. Be Honest About Your Own Struggles

Sometimes the best way to help someone open up is to say “me too”

3. Humour Helps

Laugh with them, not at them!

Conclusion:

Having a mental health problem doesn’t mean it’s inevitable that you will develop a physical health problem. There are things you can do to give yourself the best chance of staying physically well.

Emphasize the importance of finding a balance between the two for overall well-being. Encourage regular exercise, proper nutrition, and sufficient sleep for physical health. For mental health, highlight mindfulness, stress management, and seeking support when needed. Remember, small lifestyle changes can make a big difference.