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Articles
Mind/Body
Connection:
How Your Emotions Affect Your Health
What is good
emotional health?
People with
good emotional health are aware of their thoughts, feelings and
behaviors. They have learned healthy ways to cope with the
stress and problems that are a normal part of life. They feel
good about themselves and have healthy relationships.
However, many
things that happen in your life can disrupt your emotional
health and lead to strong feelings of sadness, stress or
anxiety. These things include being laid off from your job,
having a child leave or return home, dealing with the death of a
loved one, getting divorced or married, suffering an illness or
an injury, getting a job promotion, experiencing money problems,
moving to a new home or having a baby. “Good” changes can be
just as stressful as “bad” changes.
How can my
emotions affect my health?
Your body
responds to the way you think, feel and act. This is often
called the “mind/body connection.” When you are stressed,
anxious or upset, your body tries to tell you that something
isn’t right. For example, high blood pressure or a stomach ulcer
might develop after a particularly stressful event, such as the
death of a loved one. The following may be physical signs that
your emotional health is out of balance:
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Back pain
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Change in appetite
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Chest pain
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Constipation or diarrhea
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Dry mouth
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Extreme tiredness
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General aches and pains
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Headaches
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High blood pressure
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Insomnia (trouble sleeping)
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Lightheadedness
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Palpitations (the feeling that your heart is racing)
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Sexual problems
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Shortness of breath
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Stiff neck
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Sweating
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Upset stomach
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Weight gain or loss
Poor emotional
health can weaken your body's immune system, making you more
likely to get colds and other infections during emotionally
difficult times. Also, when you are feeling stressed, anxious or
upset, you may not take care of your helath as well as you
should. You may not feel like exercising, eating nutritious
foods or taking medicine that your doctor prescribes. Some
people abuse alcohol, tobacco or other drugs to try to make
themselves feel better.
Why does my
doctor need to know about my emotions?
You may not be
used to talking to your doctor about your feelings or problems
in your personal life that are causing emotional distress. But
remember that he or she can’t always tell that you’re feeling
stressed, anxious or upset just by looking at you. It’s
important to be honest with your doctor if you are having these
feelings. First, he or she will need to make sure that other
health problems aren’t causing your physical symptoms. If your
symptoms aren’t caused by other health problems, you and your
doctor can address the emotional causes of your symptoms. Your
doctor may suggest ways to treat your physical symptoms while
you work together to improve your emotional health.
If your
negative feelings are so strong that they keep you from enjoying
life and they don’t go away, it’s especially important for you
to talk to your doctor. You may have what doctors call “major
depression.” Depression is a medical illness that can be treated
with individualized counseling or medicine, or with both.
How can I
improve my emotional health?
First, try to
recognize your emotions and understand why you are having them.
Sorting out the causes of sadness, stress and anxiety in your
life can help you manage your emotional health. The following
are some other helpful tips.
Express your
feelings in appropriate ways. If feelings of stress, sadness
or anxiety are causing physical problems, keeping these feelings
inside can make you feel worse. It’s OK to let your loved ones
know when something is bothering you. However, keep in mind that
your family and friends may not be able to help you deal with
your feelings appropriately. At these times, ask someone outside
the situation—such as your family doctor, a counselor or a
religious advisor--for advice and support to help you improve
your emotional health.
Live a
balanced life. Try not to obsess about the problems at work,
at school or at home that lead to negative feelings. This
doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be happy when you feel
stressed, anxious or upset. It’s important to deal with these
negative feelings, but try to focus on the positive things in
your life too. You may want to use a journal to keep track of
things that make you feel happy or peaceful. Some research has
shown that having a positive outlook can improve your quality of
life and give your health a boost. You may also need to find
ways to let go of some things in your life that make you feel
stressed and overwhelmed. Make time for things you enjoy.
Calm your
mind and body. Relaxation methods, such as meditation, are
useful ways to bring your emotions into balance. Meditation is a
form of guided thought. It can take many forms. For example, you
may do it by exercising, stretching or breathing deeply. Ask
your family doctor for advice about relaxation methods.
Take care of
yourself. To have good emotional health, it’s important to
take care of your body by having a regular routine for eating
healthy meals, getting enough sleep and exercising to relieve
pent-up tension. Avoid overeating and don’t abuse drugs or
alcohol. Using drugs or alcohol just causes other problems, such
as family and health problems.
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