The Mind-Body Connection: Why Physical and Mental Health Are Linked
While some may believe there is no connection between physical health and mental health, the evidence supports the contrary. Many people think that your mental health symptoms are invisible, when in reality, once you know what you are looking for they are usually easier to recognize. Mental health disorders actually create so many of the physical issues that people tend to deal with on a daily basis. However, this connection between mental health and physical health does not only go one way. Struggles with chronic physical health conditions can lead to the development of mental health issues.
Things like anxiety and depression can manifest in physical symptoms such as upset stomach, headache, racing heart, lack of appetite, issues with sleep (too much or too little), overall feeling of tiredness, etc. If you are a new mother, postpartum mental health issues can cause these same physical symptoms as well as feelings of rage and impulsiveness, intrusive thoughts, and brain fog.
Some mental health disorders can cause excessive stress on your body, which can lead to an over development of stress hormones such as cortisol. If your body produces too much cortisol for extended periods of time, it can have long term physical effects on your body such as high blood pressure, weakening your immune system, appetite changes, and potential issues with heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis from inflammation.
Changes in your brain chemistry are also common with mental health issues. Mental health disorders can create an imbalance in your brain chemistry making it hard for your body to produce serotonin and dopamine, also known as the feel good chemicals. Depending on the severity, it can cause small or big changes in things such as your appetite, sleep patterns, and energy levels. Imbalances in your brain chemistry could potentially cause brain fog, fatigue, weight changes, and chronic pain.
Unhealthy coping skills tend to follow suit with untreated mental health concerns. When mental health is neglected many people tend to find ways to manage their symptoms on their own. While many coping skills can be positive, sometimes the ones we’re most drawn to only make things worse. Some examples of unhealthy coping skills:
Smoking/drinking
Increasing the frequency of smoking/drinking
Utilizing substances
Eating poorly (overeating or undereating)
Decline in exercise or staying stagnant
Isolation
Some people will also neglect going to doctors appointments, the dentist, etc, as a protective factor to not have to face their symptoms or to avoid potential feared judgement from their providers. Medical neglect also tends to happen with mental health issues because it can be hard to find taking care of yourself as a priority when you are just trying to survive each day.
However, if you incorporate positive physical health choices into your daily routine, that can lead to positive changes with your mental health symptoms as well. Ensuring you are getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly can help with things like mood regulation, enhancing the production of those feel good chemicals in your brain, and can even overall lessen symptoms of certain mental health concerns like depression and anxiety. Cognitive function can also be improved with positive physical health choices which can in turn help with stress management, concentration, and memory.
Many believe that physical health is more important, when in reality, it is just easier to see, and ultimately understand. However, just because you cannot physically see symptoms of mental health issues, does not mean they are not there, or just as severe. Both your physical health and your mental health need to be addressed, just in different ways. If you broke your arm, you would go see a doctor to get it x-rayed and placed in a cast. It is no different for your mental health. If there are things you are struggling with, even some that seem to have no reasoning, it is still just as beneficial to go and see a professional mental health provider.
Treating your mental health issues can allow you to go back to living your normal everyday life. When you address your mental health you can create positive changes physically, and when you take care of your physical health you should see a positive impact on your mental health. Finding a treatment plan that works for you can be life changing. You do not have to live your life suffering with physical issues just because your mental health needs a little more support. There are options. For some, that can look like therapy which can be done in person or virtual, one-on-one or in a group setting. For others that can be medication management with a licensed psychiatrist. For some, simple lifestyle changes and the use of healthy coping skills can be enough. Then there are individuals who do a combination of two or all three of these options. There is no right or wrong formula when utilizing these options. If you have physical symptoms that you are not sure of the cause, it wouldn’t hurt to get in touch with a provider and see what’s going on mentally. Take back control of your life and your physical health - address any mental health concerns you feel you may be struggling with. It is never too late to seek help.
Resources
https://ppimhs.org/newspost/unveiling-the-connection-between-physical-and-mental-health-the-power-of-exercise-nutrition-and-sleep/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8656946/