How your mental health affect your physical health and ways to improve it
In an article I wrote previously, I talked about how exercise can help with your mental health but then the question of, how it affects your physical health and how you can improve it. Today I will go over how your mental health affects your physical health and ways to improve it.
If you are a person with Depression, Anxiety, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), or BPD (borderline personality disorder) you will notice some physical problems. long-term cases of these can caused by lifelong mental health problems, childhood trauma, and physical or mental abuse, and other things combined can cause FND (Functional Nerve Disorder) also called conversion disorder. How your mental health affect your physical health and ways to improve it are good questions.
Problems you can get from Depression
- Pain
- Digestive problems
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Eye problems
As said in my article about exercise affecting your mental health, weightlifting, and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) can work to help your mental health immediately and the more done in a daily routine the longer the positive effects can last. But just exercising is not the only way.
You can talk to your doctor or nurse about other ways to help with depression, Things such as therapy, possible meditation, support groups, and many other choices.
Problems you can get from Anxiety
- Feeling light-headed or dizzy
- Restless or hard to sit still.
- Pins and needles
- Irregular heartbeat
- Churning feeling your stomach.
- Sweat or hot flashes
Again, as said in my other article exercise can help with your anxiety but unlike depression, anxiety is better dealt with using exercise such as cardio activities like running, elliptical, walks, yoga, and meditation. One of the Big differences is that it takes more time doing these activities to fully improve your anxiety, unlike depression which can affect you immediately
Also talking to doctors or nurses about other ways to help is a must. Using resources like support groups, therapy, and sometimes medication can help too.
Problems you can get from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- Muscle pain
- Back pain
- Joint pain
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Muscle tension
- Increased blood pressure and heart rate
Ways to help cope with PTSD are things like mind-body like yoga and meditation. Along with music therapy, PTSD therapy, art therapy, writing and journaling, martial arts, and many more. To be more specific about what helps you talk with your doctor or nurse too.
Problems you can get from BPD (borderline personality disorder)
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
- Obesity
Ways to help with BPD are things such as therapy, being around a supportive family, friend, and loved ones, working on finding out triggers, working ways that work for you on coping with triggers (such as wellness tools), meditation, validating your emotions, learning more about BPD (Doctor Fox explains a lot of ways and meanings, on his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@DrDanielFox), be mindful and many other ways can help to.
The key to knowing about BPD is one of the most recovered disorders. There is a 90% chance of recovery and remission of BPD symptoms. But most doctors, YouTube videos, and websites don’t point that out.
Now let’s talk about FND (functional Nerve Disorder) or conversion disorder
FND is a rare but effective disorder that can cause.
- Seizures,
- Speech, and swallowing disorders,
- Problems walking or standing straight without needing some support,
- Headaches/migraines,
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Bowel or digestive problems.
- Movement Problems
Cases of FND can be caused by lifelong mental health problems, childhood trauma, physical or mental abuse, and other things combined can be the cause of FND.
FND is caused by psychological problems, that then affect functional brain nerves, and crisscross the nerves. FND is also treatable and can be put into remission, but it needs to be done within the first 2 years or less to help prevent it from becoming a lifelong disorder. Ways to help with that are.
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Relearn normal movement control.
- Supportive family, friends, and loved ones
- Treatments from psychiatrist
- Therapy
- Understanding triggers of seizures and other side effects.
FND is a rare disorder that can be caused because of being in survival mode most of your life but just like Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and BPD it is possible to put it into remission. For more information or specific ways to help you, talk to your doctors and nurses about it.
Conclusion
This all points out that your physical health can be affected by your mental health, but this also points out that there are multiple ways to help your mental health to help prevent physical health problems, prevent neurological problems, and improve the problems you deal with already.
(This article is an informational and personal experience article only. If you have any symptoms or questions related to your health, talk to your neurologist, nurse, or local doctor first.)
John is a person who was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 8. John has been a certified peer recovery specialist in the state of Iowa since 2019. John also has training in ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. John is an advocate for epilepsy and mental health. John’s blog is to support fellow people with epilepsy and mental health on their road to recovery.
John loves art, comics (Marvel especially), and the UI Hawkeyes. John lives in a small town with his 3 furry best friends Louie and Mario. (Dogs) and Leo (Cat)