Understanding Mental Illness and the Mind-Body Connection

Promoting a strong mind-body connection in the workplace is essential for the overall well-being, productivity, and long-term success of both employees and organizations. Fostering this connection is increasingly seen as a key strategy for improving workplace health and performance. 

Your mind. Your brain. Your body’s control center. No matter what you’re calling it these days, there’s an undeniable link between your mental state and your physical body. That’s what we call the mind-body connection. Unfortunately, this means that poor mental health can negatively impact your physical health and vice versa, opening the door to a variety of ailments and chronic conditions that can be difficult to manage on your own. Poor mental health can also lead to problematic behaviors and poor choices that can put your physical health at risk.   

In this blog, we’ll identify physical signs of mental illness and show you how mental health support can help you achieve long-term, whole-self health benefits. Remember, when it comes to mental health struggles, you’re not alone. Despite societal stigmas, conditions such as anxiety and depression are impacting millions of Americans. If you find yourself among them, now is the time to educate yourself on mental illness and the resources you need to treat it for a happier, healthier you.  

At Perusta, we care about your overall health. We understand that mental wellness will never be as simple as a single diagnosis or trip to the doctor. Balancing the mind-body connection is a lifelong journey, and we’re here to guide you as you take your first steps.

How Does Mental Health Affect Physical Health?

Mental and physical health go hand-in-hand to form a mind-body connection that, for better or worse, can influence your quality of life. Your mental health challenges are unique, but there are physical signs of mental illness that have been mapped out across a wide range of people and experiences that tell us how the body and one’s behavior can change when mental health conditions are present or left untreated. 

Chronic Diseases

Chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, arthritis, asthma, hypothyroidism, cardiovascular disease, and more are all more common in people struggling with depression and other mental illnesses. In fact, depression tends to exacerbate the symptoms of these conditions. Why? The fatigue that often accompanies depression can make it difficult to eat well and exercise, while inflammation, reduced circulation, and even spikes in stress hormones can make chronic condition management more difficult. 

Weakened Immune System

Your immune system is sensitive to the chronic psychological stress that accompanies most mental health conditions. As a result, you experience a heightened inflammatory response that affects your heart, your skin, and your digestive system while making you more susceptible to illness and infections. An overworked immune system simply can’t protect you the way it should, which means more and more physical health concerns can arise as time goes on. 

Issues with Sleep

Does poor mental health cause poor sleep, or does poor sleep cause poor mental health? It seems that both may be true, and because healthy, regular sleep helps the brain process emotions and memories, those who struggle with sleep are at risk of experiencing declining mental health. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, 75% of depressed people suffer from insomnia. However, depression can also cause you to sleep more, a condition known as hypersomnia. Meanwhile, the racing thoughts and constant worries that define anxiety disorders can lead to insomnia in 24-36% of patients. 

Limited Access to Healthcare

As we mentioned, mental illness can be a huge obstacle to healthy diet and exercise. Another obstacle that impacts physical health is how infrequently those who struggle with mental illness are willing or able to seek out medical care. Whether it’s taking prescription medication on a daily basis or getting annual wellness checkups, having poor mental health may discourage you from taking the necessary steps to address your overall well-being. Chronic condition management requires routine healthcare. Without it, your mental and physical health may continue to decline. 

Smoking

Cigarette smoking is far more common in those who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. Dopamine, the “feel good” chemical that many people with depression have so little of, is stimulated and released by ingesting nicotine, making dependency on cigarettes a serious concern. Additionally, depression and anxiety can worsen nicotine withdrawal symptoms and make it more difficult to quit. Over time, smoking can cause heart disease, stroke, and issues with blood circulation, yet another source of chronic health issues that could be prevented or improved with effective treatment of mental illness.

The Benefits of Mental Health Support and Self-Care

How does mental health affect physical health? The bottom line is that they’re both affecting each other in ways we don’t yet fully understand. What we can say with relative certainty is that mental health support and self-care can help you take a proactive approach to mental wellbeing and improve your physical wellbeing as a result. Here’s how it works: 

Support When You Need It: Your Path to Mental Wellness

Guidance from mental health professionals like counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists will be beneficial in helping you navigate the unique circumstances of your mental health challenges. However, these resources aren’t always readily available or have long wait times. Who do you turn to then? We recommend reaching out to trusted family members, friends, religious/spiritual leaders, or consulting with your physician about an evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and digital therapeutics that could start supporting you immediately.

Whoever you turn to, we also recommend choosing a comfortable, private setting and selecting a specific date and time to talk so that you’re able to express yourself and receive the emotional support and encouragement you need. The people who care about you may even be able to identify and offer solutions to your current struggles. Plus, open, honest discussions will help diminish the stigma around mental illness.  

8 Habits to Build a Stronger Mind-Body Connection

Your health is ultimately in your hands. These eight habits are highly effective ways to promote a healthier mind-body connection.

1. Mental healthcare: Seek cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) support from a psychologist or prescription digital therapeutics. CBT is the best researched of all the psychotherapeutic approaches. It is highly efficacious in reducing depression and anxiety and addressing symptoms of low functionality. It can also improve satisfaction in relationships and quality of life.
2. Healthy sleep habits: Are you getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night? If not, consider adopting healthy sleep strategies to achieve a stable sleep cycle.  
3. Good nutrition: Think fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins instead of sugary, highly processed foods. These choices nourish your body in order to nourish your mind.
4. Regular exercise: Exercise keeps your body in shape and elevates your mood, boosting your mental health.  
5. Accessing the outdoors: Spending time in natural environments has been shown to lower cortisol levels, which are associated with stress. The calming effect of nature can help people feel more relaxed and centered, reducing anxiety. Green spaces, in particular, have been linked to lower stress and improved mood.
6. Mindfulness or meditation: From meditating to yoga to journaling, when you make an effort to focus on positive thoughts and incorporate healthy habits into your daily routine, you strengthen the mind-body connection and improve your health.
7. Social interaction: Social connection provides a crucial support system that can act as a buffer against the negative effects of depression and anxiety. Engaging with others, even in small, manageable ways, can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, which are often linked to worsened mental health.
8. Avoid Alcohol and Drugs: Substances provide a quick fix that ultimately subtracts from your mental and physical health. You can lean on your support system of friends and family if avoiding drugs and alcohol proves difficult. 

Perusta Makes the Unseen, Seen

Are you ready to champion your mental wellness? We get it: managing stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. At Perusta, we’re shining a light on people living with a mental health condition or a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Our goal is for them to receive the quality, long-term care they need to develop sustainable mental health support and live their best lives. 

A workplace that fosters the mind-body connection creates an environment where employees can thrive on multiple levels. By prioritizing physical health, mental well-being, and emotional resilience, companies can increase productivity, reduce turnover, improve morale, and build a more supportive and efficient work culture. Promoting mind-body connection isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s an investment in the long-term health of the organization and its people.
Contact us today to see how we can help you or your organization make mental well-being accessible for all.