Society conceives today a broader concept of good health, which not only concerns physical and physiological well-being, but also internal well-being. Mental and emotional health encompasses how we think, how we feel, and ultimately our ability to lead a quality life. However, the visible forms of health are interrelated with our inner balance and, if one of them suffers, it is likely that it will end up affecting the other.
Mental health is how we capture, process, and accept information about ourselves and the environment at a given moment, while emotional health has to do with the feelings that emerge during these processes. Knowing the differences between one and the other is crucial to contribute to our internal well-being and lead a life that is as satisfying as possible.
The World Health Organization defines mental health as awareness of one's abilities to cope with the normal stresses of life, be productive, and contribute to the community. According to psychologist George Enge, three kinds of factors that affect us positively and negatively intervene in this sphere: biological, psychological, and social. It is what is known as the Biopsychosocial Model.
Mental health is determined by the chemical reactions that take place in our brain, since hormones and neurotransmitters are the interveners with the rest of the body and are responsible for its healthy functioning. Regarding the psychological and social aspects, there are cognitive patterns, thoughts and beliefs that influence when processing, storing and making decisions based on information about ourselves and the world around us, which make us react in one way or another. another way in stressful situations.
Thoughts give rise to emotions. The ability to identify, express, and act on these feelings over time will shape our emotional health. A healthy person is one who has enough emotional intelligence to recognize their different emotional states, adapt to difficult situations, and overcome emotional setbacks. Meanwhile, people with poor emotional health will tend to hide their feelings from others for fear of being invalidated.
The key to good emotional health lies precisely in the detection of negative feelings, as well as in self-care, setting limits, and seeking healthy interpersonal relationships. In this way, if a person is feeling sad or discouraged, they will try to recover by doing hobbies, talking to people, or doing whatever else they enjoy and makes it easier for them to recover. Otherwise, a person who gets carried away by feelings or self-sabotages in a difficult moment is not in good emotional health.
Mental and emotional health are closely related and the ability of individuals to learn to understand, accept and react to unforeseen situations depends on both, without affecting their self-esteem or confidence in oneself or in others. Not putting this into practice is decisive for our general well-being, since it carries a greater risk of suffering from mental health problems such as depression or anxiety.
Leading a healthy lifestyle reports the same benefits for internal balance as for physical and physiological health. A healthy and balanced diet, respecting sleep and rest and exercising, as well as reinforcing positive thinking are crucial to enjoying good mental and emotional health.
