Mark A. Mahoney
The continuing uncertainty about inflation, politics, and related concerns for many people makes the topic of emotional health and mental well-being of great importance.
Today’s column provides an overview of this topic and also provides some additional resources. So what is emotional health and what can we do to improve it?
Healthier Aging:Take control of your wellness with five steps to healthier aging | Mark Mahoney
Mental health:Stay active to improve physical and mental health in times of stress | Mark Mahoney
General Surgeon:Florida Surgeon General Ladapo Appears on Anti-Vaccine Podcast and Promotes Medical Falsehoods
How you feel can affect your ability to carry out daily activities, your relationships, and your overall mental health. The way you react to your experiences and feelings can change over time. Emotional well-being is the ability to successfully manage the stresses of life and adapt to change and difficult times.
Mental health
Mental health influences your thoughts and actions and covers three main types of wellness:
- Psychological
- Social
- Emotional
The state of your mental health can affect many different areas of your life, from your ability to handle stress to how well you maintain relationships with others.
There is a wide range of symptoms associated with mental health problems, including severe mood swings, feeling low on energy, overeating or undereating, insomnia, excessive sleeping, and increased use of drugs and alcohol.
Emotional health
Like mental health, the phrase emotional health can easily be used in conversation, even if no one is sure what the term means. Emotional health is both being aware of your emotions and being able to manage and express those feelings in an age-appropriate way.
There are no instant solutions to improve your emotional health; however, there are many steps you can take to improve it. For example, try to identify the positive in situations and work on developing your strengths instead of focusing on perceived weaknesses.
Some steps to improve emotional well-being
According to Kerry Welch, MS, CAADC, a behavioral health therapist, the first step to improving emotional well-being is to practice self-compassion.
- Replace negative self-talk with patience and understanding.
- Give yourself the space and room to feel and process your emotions.
- Focusing on our emotional well-being and health is an ever-changing process that lasts a lifetime. And even a little work can go a long way.
Here are several recommendations to help improve your emotional well-being:
Practice self-compassion
People tend to treat other people much better than they treat themselves. The initial and most crucial step in improving your emotional well-being is to be kind to yourself. “Treat yourself like you treat other people,” says Welch.
Set small goals
Instead of focusing on everything you need to accomplish, set yourself a few small tasks each day that you can realistically accomplish.
Breaking big, long-term goals into small, achievable tasks can help minimize stress while taking significant steps toward those big goals. “Set very small, specific goals that you can build on,” says Welch. When you accomplish those tasks, reward yourself with something that makes you happy.
Try some relaxation techniques.
Relaxation techniques like mindfulness and meditation can help improve your emotional well-being by helping you slow down and stay in the present moment.
Too often, our minds wander and our thoughts race about all the things we could and should be doing differently. When we meditate, engage in deep breathing exercises, or practice mindfulness, we can gain perspective so that stressors don’t control our thoughts and behaviors.
Work on building a strong support system
According to Welch, socializing and connecting are essential ways to improve your overall well-being and emotional well-being. Everyone needs people in their lives that they can open up to.
Focus on taking care of your health and well-being
Diet, sleep, and physical activity (exercise) can affect our emotional well-being.
When we are more active, our bodies release endorphins, feel-good chemicals that improve our mood and help improve emotional well-being.
Being more physically active also helps lower our blood pressure, gives us a more positive sense of accomplishment, and can lead to reduced stress.
Being more active involves many activities, from yoga and walking to a high-energy exercise class and intramural sports.
What we eat not only affects our physical health, it also affects our emotional health. A healthy, balanced diet gives your brain and body the nutrition it needs to improve your mood and emotional well-being.
Prioritize your sleep and try to get eight hours of sleep a night. Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences: it affects our mood, ability to concentrate, and behaviors.
Participate in hobbies or activities
Stress can consume everything, and one of the best ways to combat it is to find an activity or hobby that allows you to get out of yourself. Welch recommends volunteering in his community or reaching out to others in need. This can help you keep perspective by diverting your attention from the stressors in his life.
one last word
Emotional well-being is the ability of people to process their emotions and cope with life’s challenges.
Managing stress, fostering positive social connections, and taking care of physical and mental health can help people maintain good emotional well-being.
Thanks to Pyramid Health Medical News Today and the National Institutes of Health for much of the content provided.
Additional Resources
An emotional wellness toolkit is available through the National Institutes of Health with information on strategies to improve emotional health in nih.gov.
Medical News Today provides some important aspects of emotional well-being, including factors that can influence emotional well-being, signs to look for in people who may be experiencing emotional well-being, and tips for improving emotional well-being. Access the link at newsmedicashoy.com.
Mark A. Mahoney, Ph.D. He has been a registered dietitian/nutritionist for over 30 years and completed graduate studies in nutrition and public health at Columbia University. He can be reached at [email protected].
Never miss a story – subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.
