Humans have a natural desire to stay healthy. They go to the gym, alter their diet, start meditation, and exploit various other resources to attain a vibrant lifestyle. However, many do not realize that physical well-being is just one part of the puzzle. You have to pay equal attention to mental health as well. After all, how could you deem yourself to be in the best condition if you are looking physically alright but undergoing severe depression?
Until recently, discussions on mental health was considered as a taboo. Mainstream media would barely educate the people on the issue. Luckily, things have changed over time. Today, the world even collectively observes World Mental Health Day. If you are wondering what makes mental health so important, you should dive into the following reasons.
1. Improved physical health
The human mind does not operate in isolation. It has a strong connection with the body. So when the mind is not at ease, it tends to trigger various physical conditions. For example, if you are keeping up with stress, you might also have difficulty sleeping correctly. In turn, the lack of sleep will have drastic consequences on the immune system.
Poor mental health promotes several other physical problems—heartburn, headache, inconstant periods, and declining fertility, to name a few of them. Unlike the past, contemporary doctors do take these symptoms into account. Many medical experts recommend consulting a mental health professional if your physical health improves even after following the prescribed medicines.
It is pertinent to mention that mental health professionals are primarily divisible into two categories, namely, therapists and counselors. Although these words are used interchangeably, there are subtle differences between their job responsibilities. You should know the distinctions between both categories to determine who can address your mental health concern with utmost precision.
2. Enhances productivity and empowers you financially
According to a well-documented report, anxiety and depression dent the global economy by one trillion dollars every year. The reason being, workers, are not on top of their performance when they face mental health challenges. It is one reason why workplaces are taking initiatives to keep the mental well-being of employees intact. One such step is hiring remote workforces. Organizations have realized that remote working leads to a better work-life balance and keeps undue mental rifts at a safe distance.
Robust mental health also means you will not have to spend undue money, treating anxiety and depression. Once caught up in a psychological disorder, patients could even rampantly leap bankruptcy. Do you know that as many as nearly 33 percent of the homeless people are fighting their battle with psychiatric illnesses?
So much so, mild disruption in mental health could account for the continued absence from the workplace. For some people, it could be equivalent to losing potential earning opportunities.
3. Ensures healthy relationships
Deteriorating mental health can stimulate domestic violence. As a grown-up person, your spouse may be able to deal with the abuse and everyday life afterward. But these actions remain imprinted in children’s memories, and sometimes they can’t get over the horror in their entire life. As a result, they foster everlasting hatred for the abuser.
Mental disorders also provoke cheating. Because partners do not seem to fulfill their sexual needs, and they end up compromising the relationship or keeping the relationship at stake for that matter. When a relationship ends, often it is not revived even when you have regained the mental health. Hence, you should combat mental issues right from the get-go so that your life does not reach a breaking point.
4. Boosts memory
As we grow older, our memory keeps losing its luster. So much so, there comes a time when our grandparents can’t even call us by our names. But this problem is not uncommon in the younger generation as well. Among other things, stress is one of the chief culprits behind it.
In 2016, a comprehensive study revealed that people with tell-tale symptoms of anxiety and depression had bad memory compared to those who showed no signs of declining mental health. A poor memory could be very annoying, especially if your profession involves remembering small details.
5. Early detection of disturbing mental health makes a significant difference
A whopping 10 million people have some acute mental disorders. But a fair proportion of them does not bother consulting a specialist. Hence, they make peace with poor mental health. It is not a smart decision by any stretch of the imagination. Because persisting with anxiety and depression for a more extended period could invite a series of problems and hamper day-to-day activities to a great extent.
The final verdict
By default, the current generation has somehow fallen prey to a very haphazard lifestyle. We are all running the rat race to make ends meet. But it is also critical to take a step back and ensure that we are not staying busy at the expense of our mental health. As soon as you notice anything remotely close to depression creeping in your mind, take immediate action to curb it then and there.