The question of whether the mind and body are linked has puzzled humanity for centuries.
Even as far back as the second century AD, physician and philosopher Galen proclaimed that the body and mind were connected, and emotions could affect our physical health.
Belief in the mind-body connection has slowly moved from the fringes of modern thinking to the mainstream. Indeed, plenty of scientific research has suggested a strong link. And that means that when we’re looking to better our mental health, it makes sense to work on our physical health as well – and vice versa.
So, in this article, we will take a look at how mental health can impact our physical health, and what we can do about it.
The connection between mental and physical health
Many studies have pointed to the effects that poor mental health can have on our physical health. There are many contributing factors, but one of the major ones is as a result of our ‘fight or flight’ response to danger.
When our bodies sense danger, our bodies become filled with two stress hormones – adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones create a physical response in our bodies. Our hearts rates and blood pressure rise, our digestive system is impacted and even the immune system is impacted.
When we’re in constant stress – such as when we’re struggling with our mental health — our cortisol and adrenaline levels will constantly be high. And that can have a negative impact on our physical health.
So what are some of these physical impacts?
Lower life expectancy
The famous Whitehall studies suggested that workers in low-level, high-stress jobs are more likely to die prematurely than their colleagues who do higher-level work. Men in the lowest work grade had three times the mortality rate than those in the highest work grade.
This research also showed that there are many different psychological factors, such as stress, status, social support and socioeconomic factors, that can have a detrimental impact on our physical health.
Chronic diseases
Jones DR, Macias C, Barreira PJ, et al. found that 74% of their study sample of people with serious mental illness had also been given a diagnosis of at least one chronic health problem. Furthermore, 50% had been given a diagnosis of two or more chronic health problems.
Researchers also found that adults with mental illness have a higher risk of medical disorders than those without. They found that not do those adults with a mental illness have a higher likelihood of medical disorders than those with no mental illness, but that they’re also more likely to have more than one disorder.
The study also found that a number of factors that increase the risk of illness are associated with mental illness. These include:
- Poor personal hygiene, which is associated with skin infections
- Reduced physical activity and fitness, which contributes to hypertension and heart disease
- High rates of smoking, which contributes to asthma, acute respiratory disease, heart disease and lung cancer
- Weight gain (caused by mental health medication), which can be associated with diabetes and hypertension
- Medications that can have harmful gastrointestinal effects
Sleep issues
Poor mental health can affect both the quality and quantity of our sleep. It can lead to insomnia and other sleeping issues. Research from Johns Hopkins shows that depression and sleep are closely linked – with 75% of people with depression having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. And the reverse is also true. People with insomnia have a tenfold higher risk of developing depression.
When we don’t sleep well we can struggle with work, school, driving and even social functioning. It impacts our ability to learn, focus and react – and you may find it hard to judge people’s emotions and reactions. This is all on top of greater feelings of frustration or worry.
Other physical symptoms
Mental illness can cause a whole range of other physical symptoms from aches and pains, headaches, brain fog, diarrhoea and more.
What can I do to improve my mental and physical health?
To improve both your mental and your physical health, some things that may help are:
- Focusing on getting quality and quantity sleep – try reducing caffeine, limiting screens, creating a dark and cool space to sleep in.
- Aiming for a balanced diet – nobody expects perfection all of the time, but getting adequate nutrients into your body can go a long way.
- Reducing alcohol – alcohol is known to negatively affect both body and mind. If you think reducing your current intake might have a positive effect on your health, set yourself a realistic goal.
- Moving your body – we all know about those happy brain chemicals that get pumping during and after exercise. Exercise that you enjoy will support both your body and mind.
- Practising self-care – stress impacts our bodies and minds, so it’s worth finding a relaxation practice that you enjoy. Meditation, breathwork and yoga are all popular options.
- Talking to an expert – this isn’t something you have to deal with on your own. If you’re concerned about your mental health or physical health, get in touch with a professional who can help.
Learn more about the connection between mental and physical health
If you have concerns about your mental health, our team of clinicians is available to help. Check out the Young Minds website for free online resources or you can make an appointment request here.