You go to your GP for a physical every year. You visit the dentist for cleanings and checkups every six months or so. Physical health: Check. But what about mental health?
As you go from health check to health check, your anxiety increases and depression starts to get worse. It wasn’t until it started interfering with your life that you made an appointment with a psychologist. Why? Well, that’s how it works.
But maybe it is time to overhaul the way we consider mental health. There are many reasons why you should consider having an annual mental health checkup.
Mental health impacts physical health
Have you ever experienced anxiety? Everyone has a certain level because it’s the body’s natural reaction to stress. You may hear people refer to it as the “fight or flight” reaction. In response to stress, your body increases adrenaline and cortisol to sharpen your mind and get your body ready for intense movement (whether it is fight or flight). The stress may be on your mind, but your body is having fun too.
When we are overburdened with stress, we are continuously in a state of fight or flight. The body remains in a state of high alert, but this isn’t sustainable for very long. This is how chronic stress can have a big impact on your health.
Physical health impacts mental health
Mental health and physical health are interconnected. Disease, such as alcohol abuse or diabetes, whose physical appearance can impact your mental health as well. And then there are other diseases which are known to affect the mind and body concurrently. This includes diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.
But you haven’t got to be diagnosed with any disease for your physical health to affect your mental health. If you do not eat a healthy, balanced diet, you may not be getting the right nutrients. And without proper nutrition, you run the risk of developing mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. In this case, the two may appear to be they aren’t related at all, but there’s a robust connection.
Deficiencies in the following nutrients have been shown to negatively impact mental health.
Mental sickness has signs and symptoms
When you visit your GP for a physical exam, she or he will be trying to find signs and symptoms of a physical disorder. Usually very cut and dry. If you show signs that something is wrong, your doctor will recommend further testing.
The same is true for many mental health disorders. So if you have been avoiding getting tested because you think a mental health diagnosis is based on opinion, think again.
If you exhibit any of the following symptoms, you may be in danger for a mental health disorder.
- Changes in sleep or appetite – If you notice dramatic changes in your sleep or appetite patterns, there may be an underlying mental health cause.
- Mood swings – If you are on top of the world one moment and feel like the world is against you the next, you may be struggling with a mental health disorder.
- Isolation – A person experiencing mental health problems may unexpectedly withdraw from social situations and isolate themselves.
- Thinking difficulties – If you have difficulty thinking or concentrating, a mental health problem may be to blame.
This is not an exhaustive list and there are various signs and symptoms of other mental health disorders. It’s also important to note that these symptoms can even indicate a physical problem. This is why it’s so important to get an examination from your family doctor in addition to a mental health professional.
