There is nothing more important in life than taking care of one’s health, and it’s not just the physical side that needs looking after, but the emotional and mental aspect, too. In recent times, the need to focus attention on the psychological side of things has taken a front seat with employers taking staff more seriously and plenty of people and organisations offering help to those who need it.
If your mental health isn’t properly cared for then other areas of your life can start to be affected, especially if left untreated for a long time. From how you handle relationships to being a good employee or business partner and the state of your physical health, there are various ways in which poor mental health can have a ripple affect on the rest of your life.
Whether you are thinking about yourself, a friend, family member or employee, it is important that you are well aware of why looking after yourself should come first. We spoke to the experts at The Kusnacht Practice to get their insight on why taking care of your mental health is so important, and why realising when you need help and seeking it out when you need it is the key achieving the most you can out of life.
The connection between physical and mental health
When you find yourself struggling mentally, you will most likely notice that physical changes will happen as a result, and sometime physical issues can affect your mental wellbeing, creating a vicious circle and leave you feeling, at times, helpless. When emotionally distressed, people often turn to quick fixes to make themselves feel better, creating poor habits by turning to food, drink and other vices, which plays a part in poorer overall health.
With your body and mind being so connected, it’s a good idea to get on top of your physical and mental health simultaneously, as you will often find that focusing on one can help the other. Whether this is giving up a harmful vice, heading to a group workout, taking on a new regular, healthy hobby or just incorporating a little more movement into your day, you will hopefully find that you start to improve all-round. And if you need help getting started on your journey, then don’t be afraid to reach out to a number of places and ask for it.
Struggles in the workplace
Struggling to concentrate at work? Getting irritated more easily? Feeling that you’re not good enough for the job you’re in? There are various ways in which poor mental health can affect your working life and too many sick days can leave you with feelings of despair on top of what else is going on inside your head. Make sure your employer, colleague, business partner or other knows what is going on, as it always helps to have understanding, and seek help in dealing with whatever you are struggling with from a professional work source or a third party.
The effect on your relationships
There are many different relationships that you have in your everyday life – from those with strangers you bump into at the shop to your children, friends, parents, partner, colleague and more – and making sure that you can handle all well can seem a struggle if you’re going through something. Good mental health is incredibly important as it can have a huge impact on your social wellbeing. If you are under a current battle, you might not have the energy or surplus mental resources to deal with these relationships, and this can lead to feelings of isolation.
Communication is key with loved ones, not everyone will be able to easily understand what you are going through so finding a professional that can help you understand why you are feeling the way you are while also helping you to make any changes that you need to in order to live a happier, fuller life with positive relationships, is paramount.
