How Does Mental Health Connect To Wellness? 

I was inspired to write this blog after a sad event took place in my life that affected me deeply. After this situation, I was encouraged to consider the link between mental health and different areas of wellness.

Wellness cannot exist without mental health. Our physical, mental and emotional well-being are all equally important and intrinsically linked to one another.

My approach as a health coach combines four key pillars of wellness – physical, nutrition, sleep, and managing emotions. Before I delve deeper into each pillar, I want to introduce you to each of them.

 

Physical

Movement can positively impact mental health as it releases hormones that rebalance us to help manage symptoms of anxiety and depression, for example. However, movement and exercise are only one part of the equation.

Comfort in our physical environment is often overlooked, but it can influence our thoughts if we don’t feel safe and secure. Being uncomfortable constantly, in turn, can affect how we behave and act around others or when we are alone.

 

Nutrition

Food doesn’t need to be complicated. When we get a healthy balanced intake of food, there can be a positive impact on mental health. There has long been a proven sentiment that eating well can make you feel better physically and mentally. 

It isn’t only about what’s on the plate. Everything we nurture ourselves with counts, including relationships with those around us.

 

Sleep

There’s an apparent link between sleep and physical health, and it’s also crucial for mental health as well.

Sleep quality is equally as important as the length of sleep. Good quality sleep enables the body to restore, repair and strengthens cognitive function, as well as balancing our mood.

Since the brain needs cues to slow down and prepare for good sleep, supporting the mind and body can also improve mental health. 

Some tips and tricks to ensure you are getting a full night’s sleep are to set a screen-limit time on your phone, make yourself a warm drink before bed, take a tepid shower or bath and turn your mind off by listening to meditation or music.

 

Managing Emotions

A quote by Robert Urich, “A healthy outside starts from the inside”, is one that resonates deeply with me and one that I want to convey to you as well. 

When we can mentally focus on managing and integrating emotions and accepting feelings, we are much less likely to suppress emotions, making us more self-aware. 

From a mental health perspective, this can enable us to better understand and recognise our emotions and their impact on our thoughts and behaviours.

Another important aspect of managing emotions is to have an open mind to other perspectives. Being able to regulate emotions means also being able to look at situations with more clarity and objectivity as well as from someone else’s point of view.