What is Mental Health?

By: EmptyCare team | Updated on: 19th October 2022

Our societies idea’s of health often revolves around the Physical aspects to it. An individual’s wellbeing, however, is a cumulative experience of not just physical but emotional, mental, psychological, and social factors as well.       

While there should be emphasis on all these different aspects of health, they’re not exclusive of each other. These aspects, as said earlier, interact with each other and together create a conscious feeling of wellbeing.   

Early Greek philosophers suggested a strong connection between mind and body. Today, tremendous developments in various sciences have helped us form an evolved perspective on the mind body connection. Isn’t it interesting how a healthy body contributes to a healthy mind, and the influence our mental health has on us physiologically. Though tons of research validates the mind body connect, just a glance at our lives can give us several examples of this active connection. “A sleepless night before an important exam” or “Your heart beating fast around your crush” illustrates the body’s response to situations perceived by the “mind”. 

Mental well-being is instrumental for an individual's healthy interaction with oneself and society. It enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. 

A mentally healthy mind gives us the ability to take control of a situation. When we say take control, we do not mean control of situations and external factors such as the challenges life throws at us. What we mean is control over our thoughts, emotions and behaviors through understanding and managing them better. 

We often hear people quoting “Mental Health is a Problem.” What does it exactly mean?  

The situations or experiences in our lives put us through a range of emotions. When we are not able to manage or cope up with day-to-day or demanding situations it leads to constant and sometimes intense stress, anger, anxiety, overthinking, mood swings which can cause further sadness, hopelessness and an overall feeling of mental and emotional burnout. Our feelings and thoughts affect our lives and accepting & seeking professional help for it can help to resolve the problems that are hampering day-to-day life. 

If you are aware of your mental health state, do not shy away from seeking professional help. Any one of us can have emotional or mental health problems. Sometimes we are not aware and other times, ignorant as:  

• The people around us do not appreciate or understand the subject all together  
• Someone who is not able to cope with day-to-day challenges is often termed as “weak” 
• Stress seems to be the new norm in this ‘Hustle Culture’ and we take it casually without thinking about the long-term consequences it may have on our mental health.  
• We put off Mental health concerns waiting for the ‘Right time’ to seek help. We often end up rationalizing this decision through “underlying dysfunctional thought patterns” 
• We are not aware of how to seek professional help 

You can also start with a few steps which will help to elevate your mood, make you calmer and you will be happier in the same environment and surroundings.  

• Move. The mind and body are intrinsically linked. Physical activity can be especially important for your emotional well-being. Doing something (mild or intense) for your “Physical self” on a regular basis will keep body metabolism healthy. In turn, increasing your energy levels and relieving stress, elevating your mood, contributing to better sleep and better mental health.  
• Spend time doing things you enjoy on a daily basis. In our busy schedules, we forget to take out time to do things which bring us happiness. Maybe reading a book for 30 minutes, listening to your favorite music, meeting someone for a cup of coffee, talking to a friend, meditation; just do it and you will witness the difference it brings you.  
• Relaxation practice: There are various techniques that can help reduce overall stress levels over a period such as Yoga, mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, muscle relaxation exercises. Pick up any and continue it to achieve a balanced state of mind.  
• Eat a healthy balanced diet. Food acts as fuel for us. Nutritious food will keep the hormones balanced and contribute to a more energetic body feeling, contributing to better mental health. 

If despite making consistent efforts to boost your mental health you feel things are not fine still, seek professional help. Self-care steps coupled with professional help will motivate you to take better care of yourself.  

Taking professional help is easy and convenient. You can take counselling / therapy sessions from your own safe space at home through an online medium and you can start today!