Why Mental Health is Just as Important as Physical Health

With health and well-being, the first thing that appears in most people’s heads is physical health, yet mental health matters.

They talk about exercise, jogging, hitting the gym, and so forth.

But they never really talk about their mental health.

Mental health includes our psychological, social, and emotional well-being.

It affects how we think, feel, and how we act in our daily lives.

Your psychological state depends on how you:

• handle emotions and stress
• socialize with others
• make decisions

Why pay attention to mental health?

In the past, humans only emphasized the importance of physical well-being.

This is why we have Spartans and Barbarians who trained and built their bodies to survive.

But in today’s world, our mental health is just as important.

We can’t be balanced if we only focus on our physical health, ignoring our psychological state.

This is especially true if you want to live a great life and produce extraordinary results in each area.

Still not convinced?

Here are some reasons mental health is just as important as physical health.

Don’t forget to read our collection of quotes from 13 Reasons Why.

1. Your mental health can affect your physical state.

Do you know that there is a strong connection between your body and mind?

For instance, your work and family life may be affected when you are in physical pain.

But this can also weaken your state of mind, manifesting itself in cases such as stress, anxiety, or depression.

The opposite is true as well.

According to studies, mental health problems can cause your physical health to deteriorate.

For example: if you have chronic anxiety and depression, you may have trouble sleeping, thus, putting your physical health at risk.

Science has also proven that people who suffer from mental illness have lower immunity.

This can cause them to get sick easier.

Doctors have discovered that when the mental health problem gets addressed, many patients report improvements in their physical health.

So remember: if you are physically weak, it can affect your mental health.

If you are mentally weak, it can affect your physical health, too.

2. Your mental health affects your financial stability.

Most people are unaware of how mental fitness can affect financial stability because it’s not as obvious as the connection to physical well-being.

According to a study by the American Journal of Psychiatry, people who suffered from mental illness earned 40 percent less than those in good mental condition.

The study also found that folks with untreated mental illness make up one-third of the overall homeless population, which is about 16 percent.

Mental health problems can also kill your productivity.

The World Health Organization once reported that over 200 million workdays are gone yearly because of depression.

Mental health problems cause almost half of the world’s top 10 reasons for disability.

Individuals who have mental problems are more likely to take medical leaves repeatedly.

Even at work, they can’t fully focus on their tasks either.

So don’t take your mental health lightly.

Treat it as important as your physical health.

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3. Your psychological state can affect your family.

Another important reason mental health is crucial is that it can affect one’s family.

Children of people with mental health problems, for example, suffer a greater risk of abuse, neglect, and various emotional and behavioral issues.

These kids often have no one to turn to, so they isolate themselves from others.

These effects can, unfortunately, be brought over into adulthood.

It’s possible that these children grow up to be adults with similar issues that require treatment of their own.

Imagine a father of four who suffers from chronic depression.

Think of what his wife and four children could go through.

It’s the loved ones who often face the most impact from financial strain, job loss, stress, and other problems brought about by mental health issues.

Because of this, recovery for the entire family is sometimes suggested so everyone can heal and move on.

4. Untreated, severe mental illness or instability may lead to dangers.

There has been some debate over untreated mental illness and its connection with violent crimes.

There’s also the use of drugs or alcohol, causing individuals with existing mental health issues to experience further suffering.

But perhaps a more pressing concern is how people with mental disorders are usually the victims of violent crime.

While studies are still ongoing on the link between violence and untreated, chronic mental issues, individuals with such problems become the targets of abuse or mistreatment.

In fact, Psychiatric Services in North Carolina has discovered that people with severe mental problems, who were not taking medication, were 2.7 times more likely to be the victim of a violent crime.

Related: Tips Recharging Emotional Health

5. Good mental health can give you a longer and happier life.

Do you know that your mental state can affect your overall life expectancy?

A 2012 British Medical Journal study found that people with mild mental health problems may have a lower life expectancy.

It also discovered that those who suffered chronic mental issues, such as depression and anxiety, increased their risk of death (related to heart disease) to a whopping 94 percent.

Although you may not have extreme mental health problems, constantly feeling depressed, worried, or panicked can bring serious consequences and influence aspects of your life.

So learn to value yourself: exercise regularly, practice meditation and yoga, avoid cigarettes and alcohol – give yourself more reasons to smile and stay happy each day.

These are great ways to improve your mental health and well-being.

By now, you should understand that taking care of your mind and body means living longer and better.

Hence, whenever there is a sign of mental illness, seek proper medication and treatment as soon as possible.

Don’t allow the problem to grow and affect your life.

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