In recent years, there has been increased conversation about mental health, leading to the rise of taking care of one’s mental wellbeing as an alternative for those struggling with overwork and stress. While there may be some overlap between the terms "mental health," "mental illness," and "emotional health," they represent 3 different concepts. For someone in a state of crisis, there may be little difference between these three. On the other hand, for those who are looking to improve their overall wellbeing, it is important to understand the distinctions between mental health, mental illness, and emotional health.

Understanding Mental Health, Mental Illness, and Emotional Health

Mental health refers to a person's overall psychological well-being. It includes the ability to think clearly, manage difficult feelings, and make decisions in a healthy way. Mental health also involves having positive relationships with others and being able to cope with stressful situations that arise from time to time. It also refers to having a positive outlook on life and being able to focus on tasks without becoming overwhelmed or distracted. With so many people these days using electronic devices and tuning into social media, it's easy to become distracted, anxious, and overwhelmed. This means that many more people suffer from mental health challenges that are being generated or fueled by their use of electronics and social media.

Mental illness, on the other hand, refers to a diagnosable chemical imbalance in the brain that can cause a person to experience symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges. Mental illnesses can range from mild to severe and can include depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These are among the most common health challenges in the world, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating that over 50% of people will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.

Mental illness can be caused by a variety of factors including genetics, biological factors, environment, and lifestyle choices. It is often treated with a combination of medication and therapy. It may be successfully managed with these tools so that a person suffering from mental illness can lead a healthy, fulfilling, and productive life. However, mental illness itself is incurable.

Emotional health is an important part of overall wellbeing, and it is essential to understand what it means in order to maintain good mental health. Emotional health refers to a person's ability to manage their emotions in a healthy way. It involves being able to recognize, express, and manage one's feelings without becoming overwhelmed or out of control. Emotional health is also closely related to mental health in that it also includes having positive relationships with others and being able to cope with stressful situations that arise from time to time. Emotional health focuses more on managing feelings and emotions, while mental health focuses more on cognitive functioning .

To achieve overall wellbeing in your day-to-day life and in the long term, it's important to take care of both your mental and emotional health.

Mental and Emotional Health Change Over Time

Mental and emotional health can and do change over time for the vast majority of people. This is because life events, such as a death in the family or a job loss, can have a major impact on our mental and emotional wellbeing. You may experience depressive thoughts from time to time without suffering from full-blown clinical depression. You may also experience seasonal mood shifts or even seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which affects many people in cold climates or who experience extended periods of darkness (as happens in the Nordic countries Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Norway).

father in delivery room holding his newborn

Your mental and emotional health will also likely change when you are going through puberty, during pregnancy or after you become a parent, as your physiology changes in middle age and during peri-menopause, and in old age when your physical and cognitive functions decline. Lifestyle choices, your diet and exercise regimen, your genetics, and even food allergies can affect your mental health and thus also your emotional well-being over time.

Regularly working long hours (whether or not you are satisfied with your job), caring for a sick relative, suffering repeated physical ailments, or experiencing economic hardship, especially over an extended period of time, can lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety, which can then cause your mental and/or emotional health to deteriorate.

The good news is that there are many resources out there to help you improve your mental and emotional health, even if you can't afford to pay for counseling or therapy. For some people, it may be as simple as engaging in activities that promote well-being. For others, it may take a sustained series of efforts to see significant improvement.

Managing Mental and Emotional Health

Taking care of both your mental and emotional health is essential for maintaining overall wellness. It's important to note that these two aspects of health are intertwined, and taking care of one can have a positive effect on the other.

One way to manage both mental and emotional health is to practice self-care. This includes activities such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, engaging in activities that bring you joy, and taking time to relax and unwind.

It is also important to practice healthy coping strategies when faced with difficult situations or emotions. This can include talking to a trusted friend or family member, learning to say "no" when your boss asks you to do more work than you can reasonably do by yourself, seeking out new social pastimes that will enable you to connect with others, writing in a journal, engaging in mindfulness activities such as yoga or meditation, walking in the woods, growing a garden or seeking professional help if needed.

5 Ways to Improve Mental and Emotional Health

Some of the tools that can help you achieve better or even optimal mental and behavioral health are easy to access and free or inexpensive. They include journaling, mindfulness practices, meditation, dietary changes, and lifestyle changes.

Journaling

Journaling can be a great way to express your thoughts and feelings, and to gain insight into yourself. It is one of the techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy that works by helping the person recognize negative thinking patterns and replace them with positive alternatives.

Journaling is an effective tool for mental and emotional health because it helps to address negative thoughts and feelings while also providing a space where those thoughts can be expressed safely. It can help to clear the mind and create psychological distance between intense emotions or situations bringing awareness, clarity, and self-compassion. Other benefits include enhancing problem-solving skills, increasing self-awareness, promoting self-acceptance and understanding, as well as aiding in creativity and unlocking personal insight. Writing about experiences also gives individuals an opportunity to express gratitude for what is going well in their lives. All of these factors lead to decreased stress levels, which in turn leads to improved mental and emotional health.

Mindfulness

is the practice of being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations in the present moment without judgment. When practiced regularly, mindfulness can help us get a better understanding of ourselves and others, as well as foster greater self-compassion and acceptance. Mindfulness also helps reduce stress, increase resilience in the face of adversity, manage emotions and impulses more effectively, improve focus, and enhance overall physical health. In essence, mindfulness serves as a powerful tool to support mental health by allowing us to relate to ourselves in an accepting and compassionate way.

Meditation

Meditation is a practice that is closely related to, yet distinct from, mindfulness. It involves focusing on the breath and allowing thoughts to come and go without judgment. In this way, it can help foster mindfulness about ourselves, our present situation, and others. There are many clinical studies that have demonstrated that a regular practice of meditation for as little as 10 minutes a day can help to reduce stress, increase focus, and improve overall mental and emotional health. Meditation also has benefits for physical health, as it reduces stress levels and improves the functioning of the immune system. Furthermore, it helps with mental clarity so that we can identify negative thought patterns more easily and replace them with positive ones.

Dietary changes

Having a healthy, balanced diet also plays an important role in improving mental and emotional health and improving your quality of life. Eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help to provide the body with essential nutrients that are necessary for optimal functioning. Additionally, avoiding highly processed foods and sugary snacks reduces inflammation in the body, which has been linked to depression and anxiety. Eating regular meals and snacks throughout the day can also help to regulate blood sugar levels, which can have a positive effect on mood.

Lifestyle Changes

Making changes in our lifestyle is key to promoting mental and emotional health. There are a range of lifestyle changes that may be appropriate for your particular situation, but some changes are commonly recommended across a wide variety of situations to improve overall mental and emotional health. For example, regular exercise has been shown to reduce stress levels, improve mood, and increase energy levels. Additionally, getting enough sleep is essential for proper functioning of the body and mind. Minimizing alcohol consumption helps regulate your mood and can deter you from using alcohol as a coping mechanism, which can lead to dependence. Setting realistic goals for yourself on a regular basis by, for example, reducing your to-do list to the 3-4 most essential tasks you can accomplish in a day can help combat feelings of being overwhelmed. Finally, engaging in activities that bring joy and pleasure such as reading, listening to music, or spending time with friends can have a positive impact on mental and emotional health.

Distinct yet interconnected

Mental health and emotional health are two distinct yet interconnected aspects of our overall wellbeing. While they both involve our thoughts and feelings, they are different in terms of how we experience them. Mental health is more focused on cognitive functioning, while emotional health is more focused on our emotional responses to situations. It is important to recognize the differences between mental health and emotional health in order to effectively address both.

Making changes to your everyday life by doing things like engaging in regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep can help to promote both mental and emotional health. Additionally, practicing meditation and mindfulness can help to reduce stress levels and improve overall wellbeing. Understanding your mental and emotional state is a crucial component for leading a happy, well-adjusted life and for coping with life's unexpected yet inevitable setbacks.

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