Globally, mental health has been a widespread health issue that continues to get worse daily and ultimately affects one’s overall health. When it comes to illnesses, mental disorders are the most judged and stigmatized. There has always been a negative stigma revolving around mental health disorders. Why? Because mental health issues are commonly misunderstood. These disorders are especially misunderstood by those who do not struggle with their mental/emotional health and wellness constantly.
What is mental health?
According to the CDC, 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. Having a mental illness is often labeled as being “weak” when you’re struggling mentally. When it’s literally SCIENCE why you’re feeling a certain way whether it's related to genetics or situational. Your brain has neurotransmitters and when they are off-balanced, it affects your overall well-being. The main neurotransmitters that affect your mental well-being are Dopamine, Serotonin and Norepinephrine. Usually, these neurotransmitters go hand in hand, if one’s struggling, so are the rest.
Why is maintaining good mental health important?
Maintaining good mental health is important at every stage of life. When struggling with mental health issues, it also affects the quality of a person’s life. When a person’s quality of life suffers, so does their overall health and wellness.
Having poor mental health can make it difficult for a person to live a normal, healthy life. When a person deals with mental disorders, both the mind and body are constantly stressed. According to research, worrying causes the body to release stress hormones that speed up your heart rate and breathing, raises your blood sugar, and sends more blood to your arms and legs. Over time, this can affect your heart, blood vessels, muscles, and other systems.
Poor mental health can also negatively affect the immune and digestive system resulting in frequent sickness, weight gain/loss, cardiovascular issues, and even obesity or diabetes. Neglecting to maintain good mental health ultimately causes more problems for our future self.
How can I improve my mental health?
Typically, mental health disorders are treated with antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety agents, and/or different forms of psychotherapies. Even with these treatments, most of the time they are not enough to prevent or get rid of the problem entirely. Just like building muscle, one must actually WORK to have a strong and healthy mental state.
There have been multiple studies done to show evidence that eating a nutritious diet and staying active can positively affect and manage one’s mental and emotional health and wellness. Healthy habits can also positively affect one’s quality of life and promote a healthy mental state.
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