Experiencing overall well-being is something most of us work hard to achieve. To reach the peak of this, one has to look at health, happiness, and prosperity and be able to look at those factors with contentment and satisfaction. Overall well-being, in simpler terms, is feeling good about one's positive outlook and feeling good.
Each and every factor that affects overall well-being go hand in hand. Physical and mental health affects each other greatly more than we think. For the longest time, mental health and physical health are addressed separately from each other. But there has been a recent clamor from medical professionals to address psychological factors when treating physical symptoms. For one, physical health significantly contributes to a person's mental state. So it is just right to consider that one's mental health directly affects his physical well-being.
Studies show that people dealing with mental issues develop chronic illnesses that could have been prevented if addressed correctly. In another study, people battling depression have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Dealing with mental illness affects your ability to make healthy decisions; an excellent example of this is smoking. Many people suffering from mental health problems look to smoking as a stress reliever, a sort of an escape from the symptoms of anxiety and depression. While it is scientifically proven that nicotine increases dopamine levels in the brain, smoking exposes you to more significant health risks.
Another great example to look at is patients suffering from psoriasis. Psoriasis is an auto-immune condition that manifests as red flaky sores on the skin and is usually triggered by stress. Study shows that 1 of 3 patients suffering from psoriasis feels humiliated by their ailment, and 85% feel annoyed having it. The condition leads to anxiety and even more stress, making the red flaky sores flare up even more. However, patients who have started receiving treatments for depression and anxiety discovered their sores beginning to clear up and eventually recovers from the disease.
It is proven that improving one's mental health will greatly affect physical health as well. Here are some great ways to hit two birds with one stone, tips that will lead to having great overall well-being:
Exercise
Though exercise is considered a physical activity, it has an excellent effect on mental health as well. Exercise releases endorphins in the body, which in turn creates a feel-good feeling in the brain. Furthermore, endorphins boost mental awareness and overall create a positive mood, defeating anxiety and depression altogether.
Eat a balanced diet
The adage "what you eat today is what you'll look and feel tomorrow" says it all. Eating a healthy, balanced diet every meal, drinking lots of water can work wonders for your mind and even more for your body. Skipping meals would only lead to unhealthy snacking, so it is best to eat on time. Furthermore, eating healthy affects the prevention of common mental conditions like Alzheimer's and depression.
Sleep healthy
Getting a healthy amount of sleep means sleeping for 8 hours every night. It is as vital as eating a balanced diet and exercising. Sleeping healthy reduces the risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Resting your mind and body is the best and most natural way to alleviate stress, which positively impacts your well-being.
Taking care of your mental health is as critical as you are taking care of your physical health. As Napoleon Hill put it, "What the mind can conceive and believe, the body can achieve." Understanding that both aspects go hand in hand would create positive and healthy decisions moving forward.