When you have a physical issue, ailment or pain, you might see a doctor. If you are having a mental health issue, you might see a mental health counselor or therapist, and if you were struggling spiritually, you might see a pastor, priest, shaman or some other type of spiritual guide. The truth is, however, that while we treat the mind, body, and soul as if they are three different things with three separate issues, they all affect each other. Your lifestyle, or overall level of physical health, will have a direct impact on your mental health. Here are three examples of how improving your physical health can also give your mental health a great boost.
Exercise
People know how important exercise is to good physical health, but they may not fully understand just how important exercise is for good mental health. Exercise to boost your mental health doesn’t have to be a grueling workout either. As little as 20 minutes a day of moderate exercise can have a significant impact on mental health. If you want a double dose of mental health-boosting power, take your dog for a brisk walk or just throw on some music and dance around the house for a while.
Maintain a healthy diet
Once again, what’s good for the body is good for the mind and emotions as well. Your emotions are actually the result of neurotransmitters that are created by the body, but they can’t just build them out of thin air. A number of mental health issues, including depression, have been linked to low levels of serotonin. There are many types of food, however, that can give serotonin levels a much-needed boost.
Get plenty of healthy sleep
Sleep has a dramatic effect on good mental health and yet people that struggle with anxiety and depression often have a hard time sleeping. If you have difficulties getting in a full 7-9 hours of good, deep sleep each night, you might want to work with either a medical doctor or mental health professional to figure out the cause. Most people are cranky when they are tired, so if you are tired all the time because you don’t get enough sleep, chances are good you are also going to be cranky – all the time.