“Out of all the things I have lost, I miss my mind the most.” – Mark Twain
Emotional health is just as important as your physical health. If your emotional health is out of sorts, you may experience an array of physical symptoms such as chest pain, high blood pressure, ulcers, etc. It is important to figure out what is destroying your emotional health so that you can think straighter and live a happy and fuller life. Self-medicating, eating addictively, and substance abuse to handle ever-increasing stressors like work, family, and money, can provide you only temporary solace.
Instead, you can do a host of other things to cope up with stress and other negative emotions that can be detrimental to your emotional health. There are ways that can help you learn to stay resilient and unfrazzled when an unpleasant or difficult situation arises in your life. These practices can also help you navigate through everyday stresses and give a fillip to your self-esteem.
What is Emotional health?
Emotional health is all about contentment, being happy with who you are, what you have, acknowledging your emotions and those of others, and keeping a balance between the emotional highs and lows of life. Sadly, many of us do not consciously make an effort to stay emotionally healthy. Emotional health is a state of well-being. When you are happy and content, you can manage stress, communicate your feelings, form healthy relationships, and enjoy life to the fullest.
Most often emotional health and mental health are used interchangeably. But they are not the same. Mental health is about the functioning of the brain, whereas emotional health means the stability of your emotions. Emotional health entails your ability to control and express your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Being emotionally healthy does not mean you can never be unhappy. However, emotionally stable people also feel negative emotions like fear, anger, loss, grief, and even stress. But they know how to manage these negative feelings on their own and when to seek help.
So, if you want to learn to handle your emotions better and become resilient keep reading and discover life-changing strategies to boost your emotional health.
1. Treat yourself with love and respect and stay positive
Having good self-esteem can help you cope when life throws a curveball at you. Be happy and proud of yourself and avoid self-criticism. Never focus on what you cannot do but what you can do well. If still there are certain things you want to change about yourself, be realistic about your expectations. and work towards them in small steps. Be forgiving to you and to others around you. Focus your energy on people who are positive and be involved in healthy habits.
2. Find a purpose in your life
Understand what is meaningful to you in your life and focus on that. Find out ways that entail benefitting you and others. It could be your family, work, caregiving, volunteering, etc. Helping others or the community can expand your life and make you content and happier. You can explore volunteer opportunities in schools, churches, and non-profitable organizations. Caregiving can also be a rewarding experience and make your life meaningful.
3. Find a new hobby or revive an old one
Take out time for your hobbies, take up a dance lesson, learn to play an instrument, or maybe learn a new language. Discover or rediscover a passion. Spending time on a hobby or passion whether musical, artistic or doing something outdoors is a great way to improve your emotional health and overall sense of wellbeing.
4. Take care of your physical health
Consume a nutritious diet
It has been scientifically proven that healthy eating can help you feel less frazzled. Choosing the right foods that boost your mental health, eating your meals on time can keep your energy levels up, and your mood steady. There are certain foods that contain nutrients that could be helpful to fend off stress and develop positivity.
Focus on eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. According to some researches, Vitamin C can help reduce stress levels. Start eating citrus foods like oranges, strawberries, and grapefruits. Also, try to add more fiber to your diet because it can balance your blood sugar. Irregulated blood sugar can cause fatigue, shaking, trouble concentrating, and irritability. Eat green peas, beans, whole grains, and lots of greens, like broccoli and kale. These are excellent brain foods.
Include nuts and seeds in your diet. Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, pistachios contain Vitamin B, magnesium, and certain healthy fats that can mitigate stress and anxiety and even help lower blood pressure. However, remember to consume only a handful every day to avoid excess calories. Furthermore, include foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, tuna, and other seafood, flax seeds, chia seeds, plant oils such as soybean oil and flaxseed oil, etc.
Avoid too much sugary and processed foods. These foods cause inflammation throughout the body and brain which can lead to mood disorders and depression and anxiety. So, next time you feel your stress levels spiking fill up your plate with some stress-busting
Get good sleep
Sleep is undoubtedly important for our health and well-being. It is important to develop a healthy sleep routine. Try to go to bed at the same time and wake up also at the same time every day, even on the weekends. Taking less than 7 to 8 hours of sleep can take a toll on your mental health. So, if stress keeps you up at night, try doing yoga, meditation, and some simple breathing exercises before sleeping to help you relax your mind and body and to help you catch some z’s.
Stay active
Physical activity is also important for your emotional health and well-being. Any activity which gets your body moving, uses your muscles and expends your energy can do wonders for your emotional health. It has been proven that even a 10 minutes brisk walk can heighten your mental alertness, energy, and enhance your mood.
Keeping yourself physically fit can reduce stress and anxiety and help improve the quality of life of people experiencing emotional issues. You can try doing moderate-intensity activities like walking, riding a bike, hiking, or more vigorous activities like swimming fast, running, skipping a rope, etc.
5. Learn to cope with stress
Stressful situations can increase the levels of the two stress hormones – cortisol and adrenaline to protect our bodies from any harm. However, when your stress levels stay spiked up for long and your body keeps firing this stress response, it can cause myriads of health issues.
You can learn relaxation methods such as deep breathing, mindfulness meditation, and incorporate some physical activity into your daily routine on a regular basis.
Studies show that spending time with a companion animal can reduce your anxiety levels to half. So, you can spend more time with your pet and if you don’t have a pet, you might consider getting one. You can also hang out with a friend who has a pet or become a volunteer at a shelter. If you feel unwell, do not carry on regardless. Taking a short break will help the body recover faster. You can also try out laugh therapy. Laughter helps improve your moods for a long time and gives a boost to your immune system.
6. Connect with family, friends, and surround yourself with positive people
Having a support network plays an important role in keeping your emotional health in a stellar state. Talking out with friends and family can help you deal with emotional challenges. Your family and friends are your support system who can help you get through hard times. They can help you by giving advice on the basis of their own experiences.
We are all social creatures and it is very important for us to build strong and healthy relationships with others. Seek out activities where you can meet new people. For example, you can become involved in your community by joining a local organization as a volunteer or join a group with which you share a hobby or any interest. Open up more about your feelings with others.
7. Avoid nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol
Caffeine and nicotine can make you feel energetic for some time but they can also make you feel jittery, anxious, and irritable. Caffeinated drinks such as cola, black tea, coffee can all influence your mental health. These substances can have a great influence on your sleep patterns. Therefore, do not drink them at least 2 hours before you hit the bed. Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day by drinking lots of water. Water recharges your brain cells and also fights tiredness and fatigue.
Never consume alcohol to help you cope with difficulties or problems in your life. It can give you temporary relief but can make you feel worse in the long run. Instead, try to reckon if your drinking is causing problems in your life such as in your relationships with others and also financial distress. Always seek help if you think you can’t stop drinking and if your drinking problem is affecting your life considerably. Don’t abuse alcohol or drugs and keep your physical health from affecting your mental health. Drink sensibly!
8. Ask for help when you need it
Understanding when you need help is important. All of us feel a little overwhelmed when things do not go as planned or don’t pan out the way we expected. Asking for help shows strength and not weakness. Getting adequate help and care can help people recover from mental illness and lead full and rewarding lives. If you can’t handle your emotional problems yourself, a therapist can be of immense help.
The Takeaway
Emotional health is a skill that can help you realize your full potential. You can learn this skill by taking some steps and be happier. Being emotionally healthy can help you to get to grips with your thoughts, feelings, and reactions. Good emotional health will help you cope with life’s challenges and bounce back from setbacks. If you are experiencing any emotional problems, talk to your doctor who can help you find the right type of treatment.
