Comparison between mental health and emotional health.

Comparison between Mental Health and Emotional Health.

When we think about our health, most of the time, we believe that sickness is either mental or physical. However, what we don’t know is that there is a third realm of our existence. We might think that emotional health is less important, but in reality, it deserves as much attention as we give to our mental health.

Emotional health and mental health are quite similar while at the same time, totally different. A healthy state for everyone is to find a perfect balance between their intellectual and emotional side.

There are some aspects of emotional health and mental health that overlap. Processing and reasoning are the two most important parts of our personality that also carry over our mental health. 

We need a powerful sense of reasoning to ensure that we are not becoming unstable or losing control of our emotions. Our choice on how to react in certain situations must be processed very thoughtfully in order to avoid any stress or anxiety. 

Lacking a balance between reasoning and processing can lead our health decline towards an unstable state, and we might find it difficult to function efficiently.

To properly distinguish between emotional health and mental health, we must first define both terms.

What is Mental Health?

We use the phrase ‘mental health’ almost every day. Mental health is a state of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral equilibrium that allows the individual to function responsibly in their family, social, and work environment, as well as to enjoy well-being and quality of life.

Many people, when they hear the term mental health, think of mental illness. But mental health is something more significant than the absence of mental illness.

It is related to the daily life of all of us, with how each one gets along with their family, at school, at work, at play, with their peers, in their neighborhood, in the community.

Mental health is something we all yearn for ourselves, whether we recognize it by name or not. When we talk about happiness, peace of mind, the capacity for enjoyment or satisfaction, we are usually talking about mental health.

Many people experience mental health issues at some point in their life. It can massively affect your thinking, mood, and behavior as research shows that every one individual in 5 suffers from mental health problems every year. There are various kinds of mental health sicknesses, such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder, each with different signs and symptoms.

The most common symptoms of mental sickness include:

  • Abusing drugs and alcohol
  • Hallucinations
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Inability to perform daily tasks
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Feeling helpless or hopeless
  • Having low or no energy
  • Pulling away from usual activities and people
  • Mood swings

There is no need to fear those with mental illness. It can affect anyone. The early signs of the disease should not be neglected. It is necessary to fight against myths and false ideas.  

There is no ethical, scientific, or social justification for excluding people with a mental illness or brain disorder from the community. The health care system can lead the way. Logically, there is no reason to exclude mental health services from the health care system. The parity between physical and mental health is paramount.

What is Emotional Health?

On the other hand, emotional health refers to overall psychological well-being: how we feel about ourselves, the quality of our relationships, and the ability to manage our own emotions and deal with difficulties. Being emotionally healthy is greater than being free from depression, anxiety, or other psychological problems.

Good emotional health is manifested in that the person does not allow herself to be carried away by her emotions, those psychophysiological responses to certain stimuli that, once elaborated, become feelings. Therefore, emotions come to be like discharges that occur in a short space of time, and that will give rise to feelings, in whose elaboration other ingredients already enter, such as will, forgiveness, experience, etc. of the person to temper that first psychophysiological reaction. Thus, emotionally healthy people do not lose control over their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

It is necessary to manage your emotional reactions to situations, to prevent unhealthy and unnecessary stress. In case if it gets severe enough, it can lead to depression. It is essential to maintain positive emotional health. Following are some tips to create emotional health:

  • Try to see the positive in all situations either good or bad
  • Live your life with a sense of purpose
  • Seeing the good in yourself
  • Learn how to overcome challenging situations
  • Develop coping skills to help with stress and mental health problems
  • Identify and build personal strengths

Emotional health is the proper management of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, recognizing them, giving them an appropriate name, accepting and integrating them.

Emotionally healthy people assertively control their feelings and feel good about themselves, have good personal relationships, and have learned ways to cope with stresses and problems in everyday life.

Differences between mental health and emotional health.

Mental health is primarily related to cognitive processes, such as perceiving and deciding, while emotional health is more focused on expressing feelings such as anger, happiness, etc.

Mental health is often associated with illnesses such as schizophrenia and mood disorders. On the other hand, emotional health is often due to less pathological concerns, such as stress.

Since mental health is more often related to disorders, it is also more involved with medical care, such as clinical psychiatric or psychological services. In contrast, people who have emotional health problems are more likely to see counselors or life coaches.

Emotional and mental health might be separate in their ways, but both are extremely important and work together cohesively. If we manage our mental health and emotional health equally, it can be helpful for us in eliminating fear, stress, anxiety, worry, depression, and anger. 

The first thing is to recognize what we understand why we feel it. Interpreting the causes of our sadness or anger is essential so that later we can adequately manage what determines our mood.

The mental health and emotional health connection.

While we have already discussed that mental health and emotional health are two different things, but they are still intertwined, without treating mental health problems, people’s emotions can go crazy. While on the other hand, focusing solely on emotional health can cause severe mental disorientation that makes it difficult to function normally. 

So, treating both mental health and emotional health play a significant role in helping people going through rehab.

If you are experiencing any emotional distress or mental illness, seek out help. Support groups, medicines, and counseling can significantly help people who have mental illness or emotional problems. They will help and inform you so that you live a full emotional and mental health and have tools and resources that strengthen your personal and social skills and promote your personal growth.

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