How Are Mental Health and Physical Health Linked?
The relationship between the mind and body is a strong one. If someone is struggling emotionally and mentally, their physical well-being will be impacted; and, similarly when the body is experiencing physical pain, the mental and emotional headspace will be affected. Health, “Is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being” (The World Health Organization).
Paying attention to the physical, emotional and mental wellness through a holistic approach is impactful because you are providing nourishment for the body and mind. Here are some benefits of taking care of your mind and body:
• If you are going through physical rehabilitation due to an injury, counselling can help to work through the emotional distress you may be experiencing due to the injury. This will aid in faster physical recovery.
• If you are learning coping tools for general daily stressors, these tools will be particularly effective should an unanticipated injury occur. This is because you have built up healthy coping strategies allowing you the mental headspace to work through the distress due to the physical injury.
• Even if you do not have any physical injuries or diagnosed mental health conditions, general maintenance and self-care practices can help to build resiliency, tolerance and self-compassion.
Focusing on either physical or emotional and mental only will provide you with half the wellness and perpetuate internal imbalance. Therefore, it is crucial to support both the mind and body when one has experienced some form of health setback.
https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/connection-between-mental-and-physical-health/
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Bhavna Verma, B.A., M.Sc., C.C.C., R.P
Canadian Certified Counsellor, Registered Psychotherapist