Exploring the Link Between Physical and Mental Wellbeing
There is a strong link between our physical and mental wellbeing, and when one is affected the other often follows suit. For example, take someone struggling with chronic pain. The enormity of having to deal with pain every day for months on end can have a massive impact on the person’s mental state. If you are waking up in pain every day, it would be perfectly reasonable to feel down about it. You might start to feel depressed if you were unable to do the things that you used to enjoy doing or if your home and work life was affected by your persistent pain.
The opposite can also be true. Those with mental health problems such as depression and anxiety often end up suffering with physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and even aches and pains.
How to Improve Mental and Physical Wellbeing
Due to the link between mental and physical wellbeing, we often find that improving one has a knock-on effect on the other. For example, those dealing with chronic pain might benefit from incorporating regular exercise into their routine. Exercise is good for physical health because it strengthens the bones and boosts cardiovascular health. This helps to reduce the risk of developing chronic illnesses such as arthritis, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. But exercise also has a positive impact on the brain and mental health. When you exercise, the brain releases ‘feel-good’ hormones (known as endorphins). These hormones can boost the mood and decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Mental and physical health can also be improved with changes to diet and lifestyle. What many people do not realize is that their diet can have an impact on how they feel. A diet high in processed foods can have a negative impact on overall health, causing problems in the gut. Those who eat a healthy well-balanced diet are far less likely to suffer with both physical and mental problems because they are getting the minerals and nutrients their brains and bodies need.
Good sleep is also important for mental and physical health. If you are not getting enough sleep, it can leave you feeling tired and sluggish throughout the day. This can affect your mental functioning and cause feelings of anxiety and depression. But there is also a link between poor sleep and physical health. Not getting enough sleep is linked to a higher risk of chronic disease.
When to Get Help
While there are many things that you can do to improve your mental and physical health, sometimes professional help is required. This is particularly so if you have tried the above but are still suffering with pain and symptoms of depression.
Visiting a pain clinic such as KindlyMD could help you to get to the root cause of your problems. The doctors there will provide a full assessment and will create a tailored treatment plan based on your individual needs and circumstances. While they will usually incorporate the above lifestyle changes, they might also recommend that you apply for a medical marijuana card in Utah or another part of the country if appropriate.
Pain doctors will also use other treatments such as holistic therapies to improve your overall mental and physical wellbeing. For example, incorporating yoga or meditation into your daily routine might help to destress and relax you, which could then relieve mental and physical symptoms.
To conclude, there are many things that you can do to improve your overall wellbeing, such as making some changes to your diet and exercising regularly. However, if symptoms persist you may need medical advice and a more personalized treatment plan.