By: Nishita Kulkarni
Introduction
Emotional health is the ability to cope with both positive and negative emotions. Being “Emotionally healthy” means managing one’s feelings productively, dealing with negative and positive emotions, staying resilient when facing challenges, and preserving one’s well-being in a balanced state.
The importance of addressing emotional health in mental health discussions is an essential element because it is a prominent aspect of mental health. Not addressing emotional health can cause issues that can lead to worsened challenges such as disabilities, unemployment, substance abuse, suicide, and a deteriorating quality of life.
The interplay of emotional health and mental well-being is a complex relationship. This article explores the connection between the two aspects and delves into how emotional health can impact mental well-being and vice versa.
The Interconnected Impact
Emotional Health and Mental Well-being are connected since emotional health can influence one’s cognitive/physical state. For instance, emotional resilience is essential in maintaining good mental health because it helps individuals recover from challenges, no matter their difficulty. Building good emotional resilience can help individuals easily overcome difficult obstacles while maintaining a positive mindset. Resilience can help enhance one’s ability to succeed in adversity. Effective emotional regulation is also necessary for maintaining psychological stability because it enables individuals to manage their emotions constructively; if equipped with effective emotional regulation, one can be more emotionally prepared when dealing with stress and anxiety.
The impact of emotional health on overall psychological wellness is crucial. Individuals with good emotional health can cope with stress, maintain relationships, and decide things more quickly than those struggling with emotional health. Emotional health is vital in controlling emotive strength, which helps one overcome challenges/obstacles that interfere with one’s life. Poor emotional health leads to high stress, anxiety, and difficulties in managing situations out of control, taking a toll on one’s psychological wellness.
Resilience and Regulation: Nurturing Mental Well-being
Emotional resilience plays a significant role in the influence of mental health. Resilience refers to the ability to adapt to situations that are out of one’s control. People who have high emotional resilience can cope easily and bounce back from difficult experiences, which positively impacts mental health since it reduces the chance of developing issues like anxiety/depression.
Emotion Regulation is managing one’s emotions and responding to the situation effectively. Surprisingly, everyone subconsciously regulates their emotions, depending on the demands of the environment and the problem at hand. We might not know it, but our brain always tries to calm ourselves and our bodies; this is done by releasing calming neurotransmitters in a state of panic/stress, which initiates relaxation responses. Examples of healthy regulations one can do are writing in a journal, yoga, walking, talking with loved ones, and taking breaks when needed. Unhealthy regulations include self-injury, avoiding situations one might find challenging, aggression (physical or emotional), and disregarding responsibilities.
Understanding Stressors, Trauma, and the Importance of Social Support
External stressors that can impact emotional health can vary tremendously. Such stressors include work-related pressure, financial insecurity, relationship hardships, and significant life changes. It’s essential to be aware of these stressors. Hence, your emotional well-being isn’t a victim of their negative impacts on your health: risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, weakened immune system, anxiety, and depression.
Another emotional impact that many experience is Trauma. It’s common to have intense emotional responses due to Trauma; most emotional reactions associated with Trauma are derived from panic, fear, shock, and withdrawal. The implications of Trauma on emotional health can be lifelong and devastating. As talked about popularly, veterans once in the army usually dealt with Trauma from cruel acts of violence surrounding them. Trauma leads to a range of emotional obstacles, including anxiety, PTSD, depression, and the development of trust issues.
There is such importance on social support as its relation to good emotional health is vital. People who are socially active and connected (with stable relationships) are likely to make better decisions, leading to better health cognitively and physically. Social support is known to be a factor that helps many during a time of stress since the support brings the individual a sense of belonging and empathetic comfort and reduces loneliness and anxiety.
How to Promote Emotional Well-being
Practices that can promote quality emotional well-being are
Getting enough sleep daily
Physical activity
Building a social support network
Setting time aside for yourself to do things you love
It’s also essential to seek professional help during a time of struggle with emotional health. Looking for different types of professional help, such as therapy/counseling, can help improve one’s emotional health.
In Summary
It’s clear that emotional health is strongly connected to one’s mental well-being and that managing your emotional health is vital to promoting overall mental wellness. Knowing the factors affecting emotional health is essential to foster resilience and regulate one’s emotions productively. Using strategies to tend to your emotional health and seek professional help if needed can help individuals progress towards a fulfilling emotional well-being, leading to improved overall health results.
MCR Committee: Health
Sources
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Mind. “Effects of Trauma.” Mind, Dec. 2023, www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/trauma/effects-of-trauma/#:~:text=Some%20of%20us%20who%20go,sense%20of%20who%20you%20are.
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WebMD Editorial Contributors. “What Is Emotional Health and How Does It Affect You?” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/balance/what-to-know-about-emotional-health. Accessed 16 May 2024.