Taking Care of Your Emotional Health

May 12, 2009

I’ve devoted a lot of time to talking about physical health in terms of diet, nutrition, and exercise but it is just as important to acknowledge the importance of emotional health. Our emotional health can be affected by many different situations:

• Stresses in our lives (family, work, financial, etc.)
• Relationships
• Physical health
• Disorders (depression, bi-polar, etc.)

With so much emphasis on physical well being and other concrete factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, etc., it is easy to overlook less tangible emotional wellness issues.  That doesn’t mean that emotional well being is any less important however.  In fact, left unchecked,  mental/emotional problems can lead to very real physical ailments.

Like many people, I am guilty of ignoring the signs of stress and other factors that affect my emotions.  It’s easy to get caught up in a hectic lifestyle and not take the time we need to decompress and rejuvenate on the inside.  This past week, I got clear signals from my body that stress levels were getting too high and I needed to take corrective action.  After much research and talking to professionals, I’d like to share some of the suggestions I’ve uncovered to help restore emotional balance.

• Be aware of stress in your life and take time for yourself to restore relaxation and calmness.  Schedule time for yourself every day.  Even if it is only 15 minutes - make sure you have uninterrupted time to yourself.
• When presented with a stressful situation, practice a relaxation technique.  Walk away from the situation, go for a walk, practice deep breathing, count to ten — these are all ways to help you deal with a stressful moment.
• Surround yourself with positive people.  It’s amazing how contagious a positive attitude can be and conversely, how destructive a negative attitude can be.  Get the negative people out of your life.
• Try to adopt a healthy diet and incorporate exercise into your daily life.  You may be surprised to know that poor diet and lack of exercise can lead to emotional issues.
• If you suspect you may have a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety, or bi-polar , don’t be afraid to seek help.  Talk to your doctor about possible treatments — people with disorders can lead very productive lives with the right treatment.

The bottom line is that you have to take care of your emotions just like you take care of your body.  Don’t fall into the trap of taking care of everyone else but yourself.  You’re worth the time and investment and more importantly, you deserve it!

I hope you’ll take a moment to leave a comment and share your ideas for dealing with stress or other emotional issues.

Comments

• Search for:

• Cookbooks