Healing Inside and Out: The Profound Connection Between Mental and Physical Health

Many elements of wellness exist and can be prioritized differently based on values and lifestyle. Regardless of what elements of wellness are most important to you, there is no denying that physical and mental wellness are very much connected and a key component to overall health and wellbeing.

While both mental and physical health consist of their own components, they are also intertwined and greatly impact one another.  Understanding this connection can help you to better understand healthy ways to cope with mental health struggles and more effective ways to take care of your mind and body at the same time. 

Understanding the Mind-Body Connection:

The mind-body connection shows up in many ways but ultimately illustrates how the two are intertwined and greatly influence one another. Struggles within our mind often influence struggles within our body, and vice versa. 

Depression and anxiety are two examples of mental struggles that can result in physical health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. The same is true reversed, as often chronic physical health conditions can lead to mental health struggles including depression and anxiety. 

Although your mental and physical health can worsen simultaneously, they can also improve and strengthen simultaneously. Tending to your physical health can have a direct impact on improving your mental health. Engaging in physical activity and knowing you are making an effort to improve your physical health often increases your mental momentum and can change your overall outlook on health and growth. 

When the roles are reversed and you work to strengthen your mental health, this can change your overall perspective, how you view physical activity, and increase self-esteem. This changed perspective can help you to prioritize your physical activity and thus improve your overall health. 

When you are in a healthier place mentally, you also tend to care about your body more. This can result in more routine doctor’s visits, which can be both preventative and tending to current health issues that may otherwise worsen without attention. In tending to physical health issues and seeing improvements, this can improve your overall mindset.

The examples of how mental and physical health are intertwined can go on for days, but knowing the connection exists and knowing how you can benefit from this connection is key. 

Benefitting From the Mind-Body Connection:

Below are areas to focus on that can allow you to tend to both your mental and physical health:

• Sleep Hygiene:

  • Many studies show a healthy night’s rest consists of 7-8 hours. 

  • Waking up and feeling well rested can affect energy levels and overall mindset. 

  • Oversleeping or not getting enough hours can do the opposite and negatively affect your perspective and energy levels throughout the day. 
    

• Relaxation Techniques:

  • Engaging in breathing exercises, meditation, or mindfulness practices simultaneously assist in healthier mindset and increased physical strength.
    

• Physical Activity:

  • Physical activity releases endorphins in the brain which can improve overall mood. Increase in endorphins can decrease depressive and anxiety related symptoms.

  • Engaging in daily physical activity, even low intensity workouts, has been proven to increase mood and improve overall health. 

  • A healthy outlet/coping skill when feeling negative, angry, or heavier emotions
    

• Appropriate Diet:

  • Eat balanced, healthy meals.

  • Avoid late night eating.

  • Stay hydrated.
    

• Set Short Term Goals:

  • Achieving short term goals can increase motivation and overall drive.
    

• Practice Gratitude: 

  • Shifts your perspective when overthinking or lacking momentum.

  • A shifted perspective and gratitude focused mindset can assist you in achieving set short term goals for improved mental and physical health. 

Tending to your mental and physical health takes work. Believing you are worthy of that work and worthy of healthy change is the first step. There is no wrong time for change. Starting small in any of the areas mentioned above will produce momentum and help to increase consistency when it comes to making healthy changes in your life. 

If you’re needing more support with improving your physical, mental or emotional health, contact me for your complimentary phone consultation at 954-391-5305. 

I offer counseling for adults and couples at our beautiful therapy offices in Plantation, Florida. I also provide online counseling via our secure telehealth platform.

For more information about my approach to counseling for couples and adults, click here.

I look forward to speaking with you to discuss how I can help you live your best life!