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How Your Mental Wellness Affects Your Physical Wellness

woman meditates and practices mental wellness

When you’re feeling stressed, how does your body feel? Do you begin to have headaches or backaches? Does your stomach begin to churn, or do you suddenly feel exhuasted? Our society often treats the mental and physical entities as separate – but they’re inextricably linked. If our mental health isn’t in order, our physical health won’t be, either. Conversely, the way we treat our physical wellness – such as through diet, exercise and sleep – will also affect our mental health. They’re quite a system, and by considering them as a “pair”, we can begin taking a more holistic approach to health and wellness. A 2017 study published in the journal Social Science & Medicine assessed mental and physical health results from over 10,000 people – and they found that physical activity, lifestyle choices and social interaction are all influencers of just how healthy we are. If we don’t treat our mental health as a top priority, the effects that seep over into the physical side of things. For example, a 2014 study published in the journal BMC Psychiatry found that depression and anxiety created a higher risk for developing serious physical conditions such as:

  •    Arthritis
  •    Asthma
  •    Diabetes
  •    Heart disease
  •    Hypertension
  •    And more

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that physical health isn’t the only component of wellness that matters; they define health as, “A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Treatment for addiction is an excellent time to begin exploring the connection between your mind and body. With this, you can start exploring various strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), meditation, yoga, physical activity and more to find a beautiful daily routine that connects both your mental and physical health and provides you benefits for total wellness.

Arbor Behavioral Healthcare offers an integrative and holistic approach to treat substance abuse and a wide variety of addictions, as well as underlying mental health and psychological issues. All of the addiction recovery programs offered by The Arbor are designed to heal the mind, body, and spirit leading to a lifetime of sobriety, health and wellness. If you’re ready to find healing and restoration in a peaceful, loving environment, please call us today at 844-560-7269.