There is a direct correlation between the emotions you experience from day to day and your mental and physical well-being. As humans, we have complex emotions and feelings that are triggered by other people, things, places, and events (in positive and negative ways). This emotional depth is what enables us to have meaningful relationships, and what drives our behaviors. Emotions affect how we feel mentally and physically, by shifting hormonal balances.
The Codependence of Emotional Health and Hormonal Balance
The brain controls hormonal regulation, which is essential for normal and healthy bodily functions. Your immune system, metabolism, sleep patterns, and moods are all influenced by the codependent relationship between emotional and hormonal balance. Hormones are easily imbalanced by emotional dysregulation, which can be caused by a variety of factors. Substance abuse and addiction, for example, can significantly disrupt hormonal production and regulation. Some people try to cope with emotional stress and sleep deprivation by using alcohol and sleeping medications, which can lead to alcohol dependence or sleeping pill addiction. This can exacerbate hormonal and emotional imbalances and can cause various health issues.
How Stress and Negativity Can Compromise Your Health
Experiencing stress and negative emotions is a natural and inevitable part of life, and you’re bound to have stressful days that affect your mood and outlook. But negativity can snowball and stress can become overwhelming. Stress aggravates physical and mental health interchangeably. As stress increases and mental health declines, attention to self-care wanes and physical health deteriorates as a result. It can disrupt your sleep, eating habits, and appetite, decreasing your energy and causing your metabolism to slow down. Poor emotional and physical health go hand in hand and have a direct impact on quality of life.
Research has also shown a strong correlation between emotional distress and inflammation. Negative emotions and stress have been proven to increase inflammation in different parts of the body. Inflammation caused by stress can manifest in a variety of health complications. The cardiovascular system is very sensitive to inflammation, which can cause life-threatening medical conditions such as strokes and heart attacks. The immune system is also adversely affected by stress-induced inflammation. People who experience chronic stress and suffer from poor mental health are more vulnerable to viruses, infections, and diseases.
How Positive Emotions Can Improve Your Health
Alternatively, positive emotions improve your health and quality of life in remarkable ways. Optimism and positivity enhance physical health by boosting energy and increasing stamina. Positive emotions and perspectives also fortify resilience and make it easier to manage stress. You will generally feel more positive about yourself and life in general when you eat properly, sleep soundly and adequately, exercise on a regular basis, and find time to do things that make you happy. Emotional and physical self-care is integral to balanced hormones, which are integral to optimal mental and physical health. When your body’s hormonal balances are calibrated, and all systems are running smoothly and in harmony, you feel and function at your best. This is how the mind and body interconnect, and it all depends on synchronous equilibrium.
Balancing Health and Quality of Life
One of the universal keys to optimizing health and quality of life is balance. When you have balance in all areas of your life including work, family, relationships, recreations, etc., your body is able to self-regulate and maintain balance from within. You can help sustain the connection of emotional and physical balance by doing things that make you happy. Of course, balance looks different for each person. The definition of balance for you is probably very different from someone else. Some people experience good emotions with having more outdoor exercise or being in the company of good friends. Others might get their positive vibes from spending time with animals or relaxing indoors. Whatever it is that keeps your hormones and emotions in balance, prioritize those activities and make time for them every day to keep your health in its prime.
