Know the link between emotional fitness and mental health, what actions you can take to improve overall health and well-being.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Good mental health isn’t just the absence of mental health problems
- Negative emotions can prevent success and drain your energy that is required for being productive in your daily routine and activities
- There are a number of steps you can take to take control of your mental health – whether you’re looking to cope with a specific issue or handle emotions better
New Delhi: There’s no denying the fact that your emotional health is a vital part of your overall health. Being emotionally fit or healthy is much more than being free of psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression. Mental and emotional health refers to the presence of positive characteristics, which means good mental health isn’t just the absence of mental illness.
Perhaps, the outbreak of the coronavirus has triggered a mental health crisis with many people experiencing high levels of emotional distress and anxiety. Experts said while it’s common to feel anxious, confused, or overwhelmed during an infectious disease outbreak, one can also experience feelings of anxiety and distress even if they are not at risk of getting sick.
While we’re in the midst of extreme disruption, there are steps that all of us can take to improve our emotional health and be happier. On the occasion of World Mental Health Day observed on October 10 each year, we talked to Dr Roma Kumar, chief psychologist and co-founder, Emotionally.in, to better understand the link between emotional fitness and mental health, what actions you can take to improve overall health and well-being.
What exactly is emotional fitness and how does it connect to mental health problems?
The state where the mind is capable of staying away from negative thoughts and can focus on creative and constructive tasks is when we state it as being Emotionally fit. A healthy emotional life is primarily a matter of how your mind processes, you understand information, your experiences and knowledge regarding mental health. Negative emotions such as sadness, anger, anxiety and distress can prevent success and drain your energy that is required for being productive in your daily routine and activities. Thus, emotional health involves your ability to manage and express the emotions that arise from what you have learned and experienced. Being emotionally fit is the key to success in all aspects of life. For being emotionally fit, we need consistent habits and exercise that support our mental health and emotional well-being so we can lead a healthy and happy life. We have to learn to achieve the mindset that allows you to not just endure chaos, but to thrive in it.
How should parents make emotional fitness a conversation from a child’s early growing years?
We know raising kids can be hard. Children learn and develop best when they have strong, loving, positive relationships with parents, grandparents, extended family and other caregivers as they learn about the world – whether the world is safe and secure, whether they’re loved, who loves them, what happens when they cry, laugh or make a face, and when they face traumatic events. Parents need to build a positive relationship with their child by being present with your child, spending quality time with them and creating a caring environment of respect and trust.
- Notice what your child does and do comment/compliment on or encourage them without judgment.
- Show acceptance and let your child be. Try not to give directions all the time.
- Listen to your child and try to understand your child’s real feelings. Stop and think about what your child’s behaviour is telling you.
- Support your child’s ideas and you could use the conversation as a way to learn more about your child’s thoughts and feelings, even if they’re different from yours.
Children who have learnt to thrive in chaos have the ability to stay calm under immense pressure and focus on who they need to become to get through a challenge. They have the capacity to change their perception when reality changes. They don’t try to argue with reality by wishing that things wouldn’t be a certain way. This is emotional fitness.
How does one become emotionally fit or resilient?
You must understand that emotional fitness is not the same as emotional intelligence – which is the capacity for empathy. Emotional fitness is the capacity to think when the ground crumbles underneath you. Components for a healthy emotional fitness regimen is training your mind for good attention skills. Our minds need regular exercise and training just as much as our bodies need it in order to remain fit and healthy. Our thought processes are governed by our feelings and experiences on a daily basis. This includes our moods, emotions, desires and motivation. So before we think about these emotions we need to attend to them mindfully well which will clarify what our mind is consciously able to focus on and thus help us understand our feelings and behaviours too. We have to train our minds to restructure negative thought patterns and accept our emotions. You must cultivate yourself to become emotionally fit for success.
Why is mental health the master of all health and why is it important to know that ‘it is okay to reach out’?
Mental health is about cultivating your character and making sure you have a sound, strong mind to endure the challenges you will undoubtedly face in your journey of life. Understanding mental health helps us determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. It is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Emotional and mental health is important because it’s a vital part of your life and impacts your thoughts, behaviors and emotions. Being emotionally healthy can truly promote productivity and effectiveness in all life’s activities. It plays an important part in the health of your relationships, and allows you to adapt to changes in your life and cope with adversity.
Issues related to mental health can impact different people in different ways. If you start to see changes in your overall happiness and relationships and emotional health, there are always ways to get the support you want and also reach out for extra support. And you can see a psychologist or psychiatrist and find the personalised support you want.
Suggest a few tips that can help all of us to become the first responders to mental health issues.
Just as you can train and condition your body, you can also train and condition your mind to think more clearly and feel less stressed. We can enlist the help of other supportive people, or a therapist or a counsellor, who can be very helpful. As a first responder to mental health issues, you must begin recognising that mental healthcare and mental illness are no different than any other health care need. In fact, there is clear evidence that indicates that many physiological issues have a direct link to psychological diagnostics.
As a first responder, we must begin to recognise that there is too much stigmatisation and discrimination regarding mental health. Furthermore, we must begin to eliminate this stigmatisation and discrimination by bringing an awareness of the normalcy of mental health. The prevalence of mental health issues, are as common as physical health issues. Those who are diagnosed with a mental health condition, are not the exception to the rule, but are within the norm of the human population. We must begin to recognise that mental health issues and concerns are a sign of being human and accept our humanity, our frailty, and our strengths.
Ref: Times Now