Emotional Health

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

We are on a roller coaster of emotions!

Right now many of us have pretty high emotions and they seem to be falling on the negative side of the scale. We pack a ton of emotions into a small body: anger, disgust, happiness, excitement, nervousness, eagerness, sadness, worry, fear, stress, anxiousness…etc. And each one has an effect on our bodies…and minds…in a variety of ways we have never even thought about before.

In this life we are never going to be able to escape all the negative emotions and their effects, but we don’t have to be controlled by them or trapped by them for our entire lives.

What are Emotions?

If you want the technical definition… Emotions are instinctive states of mind or feelings that are derived from a person’s circumstances or relationships with others. They are stimulated by a movement of neurotransmitters in the brain in response to stimuli.

But…I think we can all agree that emotions are a bit more complicated than this definition. 😉 Though we don’t understand everything about them, we can dive in a little deeper and try to understand them a little more and how they impact our bodies, as well as our lives.

God designed us to have emotions, and I believe He wants us to use them correctly. Not be RULED by them…but do not ignore them, either.

How do they Affect our Health?

Emotions take a toll on our health, physically as well as mentally. And it can be for good or ill. Have you ever noticed a lack of appetite when you are nervous or stressed? Do you find yourself craving junk food when you are dealing with grief or stress? How about having more energy when you happy or excited?

Don’t deny the emotions you are going through. Denying them does not make them go away. They need an outlet. If you try to suppress them, instead of going away, your body absorbs them and in trying to get your attention, can cause some very unpleasant side effects. We were given emotions for a reason, and we can learn from them and they can help us in many ways. So we need to not suppress or deny our emotions, but work through them, learn from them and don’t let them take over our minds or bodies.

Now, with that being said, there is a RIGHT and a WRONG way to express negative emotions. We can make things worse or bring others down with us when we react wrongly. Here are some GOOD ways we can work through those emotions that wreak havoc on us:

  • Pray and read 
  • Talk it out
  • Exercise
  • Music (Pounding The Imperial March on the piano is actually a fun way to release stress and frustration/anger ;P )
  • Eat good food
  • Get out in nature
  • Hold your loved ones 
  • Love on pets and animals
  • Take some deep breaths (of fresh air, whenever you can)

How Does Human Interaction Help?

Everyone feels alone from time to time. But a constant feeling of loneliness and isolation can actually take a serious toll on our health. Even the most introverted individual needs some human interaction and can benefit from social interaction.

Loneliness has been found to increase blood pressure and stress hormones…which can seriously hurt your…heart! (Go figure that one!)

Symptoms of loneliness include:

  • Overwhelming feeling of social isolation, even when you aren’t alone
  • Feeling disengaged and alienated
  • Inability to connect with people on a deep, intimate level
  • Not having any “best” or close friends
  • Feeling like no one really “gets” or understands you
  • Feeling worthless and emotionally drained

These feelings of loneliness can do a number on your body.  It can lead to fatigue, trouble sleeping, weight gain, inflammation and a weakened immune system. If left unchecked, it is easy for it to lead to depression and a lot of other medical concerns.

While it is not always the case, loneliness can be more common among people:

  • living alone
  • being unmarried (single, divorced or widowed)
  • not participating in social groups
  • having few friends
  • having strained relationships
  • people struggling with substance use, depression and dementia are also at a greater risk of chronic loneliness

This does not mean that all people in these situations are guaranteed to suffer from loneliness a lot, but it does go to show just how much of a positive influence human interaction can have on each and every person. God created people for each other, for our good health. Everyone benefits, and even NEEDS, the right kind of socializing from the people they love from time to time. (Yes, this even applies to the BIGGEST introvert on the planet 😉 ).

 

We need to LISTEN to our emotions. They have “words to say”…but they aren’t meant to overtake healthy/wise decisions. While they are not to control us, we are by no means to ignore them or never try to focus on their health just as we do our body’s.

 

How can we help stay in good emotional health? While it can never be perfect, there are are ways to make it better when you are going through an emotional down:

Diet – Don’t underestimate the power of healthy foods! We all know foods can hurt or help our minds, and they can affect our emotions, too. Eat the foods that feed your mind in a healthy manner…and don’t bring harm to the rest of your body.

Exercise – Get your heart pumping and your blood moving. It can clear the mind and get those positive emotions awake.

People – Do NOT forsake the company of others: family, friends… Be around the people you love, those that care about you and bring you comfort and make you happy. Hold them close, have fun and laugh with them, make memories. It truly does make a difference.

Scriptures and Worship – I have found that focusing on God and His word helps tremendously in shrinking those negative emotions and their hold on me. You can find a Psalm for just about any emotion (David went through a lot of them…). Maybe sing a song or two. Music lifts the spirit.

 

 

The Medicine of Laughter

Beauty joyful girl with daysy flowers on her eyes enjoying natur

“I love to laugh,

Loud and long and clear!

I love to laugh,

So everybody can hear!”

(That seems to be one of the favorite and most catchy tunes from the movie…behind “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, of course.)

We all love to laugh, right? It lightens up the mood, brings people closer together and makes us feel good (except maybe when we laugh so hard our sides hurt). What about when you are feeling really down, or having a bad day? Doesn’t it really brighten up your day, your mood, and even your whole body when someone (or something) makes you laugh? But have you ever thought much about WHY laughing makes you feel better…both emotionally and physically?

 

“The more you laugh,

The more you fill with glee!

The more the glee,

The more we’re a merrier we!”

 

Laughter is contagious. Even if you don’t know what you are laughing at sometimes you can’t help but laugh when everyone else is. And sometimes other people’s laughs make you laugh.

Science Behind Laughter

It’s true! Laughter is SCIENTIFICALLY good for your health! Now, I know science is not everyone’s favorite subject (it can get overwhelming sometimes for even the best of us), but just hang with me for a moment. I promise: no super technical terms or hard to pronounce words.

Laughter releases endorphins

Endorphins: Known as the “feel good” chemicals. They interact with brain receptors to help you feel more focused, less impacted by pain and put you in a better mood.

They have much in common with anti-anxiety prescriptions, though without all the risks…and much better for you! They work with your body’s design, not against it.

Endorphins work with serotonin and dopamine hormones.

Serotonin is a “happy hormone”. It improves mood, helps beat depression. It is needed for mood stabilization, good sleep, dreaming AND even blood pressure levels, digestion, and the regulation of body temperature.

Studies also show that laughter is linked to an elevated pain threshold.

It helps keep your brain sharp and more attentive. Don’t you usually feel more awake and alert after a good laugh? I know I do.

Another Thought:

Even the bible tells us laughter and merriment is good for us: “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:13

In several other verses in Proverbs…and all throughout the scripture, it speaks of the good of being merry and rejoicing together.

Ecclesiastes says there is a time and a purpose for everything…even laughter and dancing.

So… LAUGH, my friend! 

To Stress or Not to Stress, That is the Question

Exhausted Man With Headache

 

Let me share a familiar picture with you.

You are sitting at your desk, trying to get work done. It keeps piling up. You have pressure on you to get it done… and be perfect in every way. On top of this, you have thoughts swirling through your mind about bills you have to pay this week, papers due the next morning for a really important class, and you and your friend’s relationship has so many changes happening, not all good changes. There is this big weight on your shoulders that you can’t seem to escape. At times you feel like you can’t breathe. You slowly go about your tasks each day, feeling low on energy, and rubbing your aching head while you grab some carb-filled, sugary treat.

I bet you can relate to at least one of these scenarios at some point. And I bet we could all name several more… where the outcome is STRESS.

Stress or Relax?

Choosing between stress or relaxation doesn’t seem like a hard decision. After all, who would want to be stressed and feeling horrible all the time, emotionally and physically? But it isn’t easy to dump stress. Something goes wrong at work or you have a tight deadline at school and it returns, begging you to take it back. It can be very persuasive. So hard to resist and even harder to keep away.

It takes energy to resist stress and not let it consume you. It hides in many corners, taking on several forms. It’s easier most times to just give in and not fight it. But at what cost?

We all deal with stress in our every day lives. Stress over school or work, finances, relationships. If we are not careful, it can control our lives and make us and those around us miserable. It also can have serious health effects.

Some are obvious: struggling with sleep, headaches, maybe sometimes you even have a loss of appetite. But some are below the surface and not as noticeable. Stress can increase cortisol and blood sugar levels, upsetting the body’s normal digestion and throwing our thyroid glands and hormones off kilter.

Unfortunately, we can’t live stress free in this world. But before you pull your hair out over worry about all your problems try some of these simple ways to relieve your daily stress.

stress therapy and management helps in relaxation reduce tension

1. Exercise 

Get your blood pumping! Exercise is one of the best stress relievers. It releases powerful chemicals in the brain that act as the body’s own painkillers and mood-lifter. Regular exercise regulates the body’s metabolic and psychological processes such as reinforcing moods, blood sugar levels and helping regulate sleep cycles.

2. Diet 

If your body doesn’t feel good, neither will your mind. Having a nutrient-dense diet can help your body deal with stress. Consume good foods that contain vitamin B, magnesium, protein and healthy fats. And avoid processed foods and sugars and too much caffeine that can overload your body and suck it of all that it needs to stay healthy.

3. Write 

Writing out your problems and thoughts (both positive and negative) and the events of the day on paper can help identify the cause of stress, even when we are unsure. It also helps us to look at it from a third person point of view and perhaps see our stress in ways we don’t normally.

4. Do Something You Enjoy

Distraction from the day’s problems can keep negative and burdening thoughts out of your mind. Give yourself (and your brain) a break, read a book or enjoy a game with some friends or family.

5. Essential Oils

There are certain oils that are capable of reducing inflammation, balancing hormones and improving immunity. They can also help to relax your body and clear your mind, making it easier to sleep (which is an essential in keeping stress under control).

6. Pay/ Read Scripture 

I am a big believer in prayer, talking to the One who created the body. It is always best to turn to the Creator. God knows how our bodies work and He knows just how to help us fix the problems. He just wants us to ask. It is also truth that getting the focus off of yourself and your problems and turning our gaze to God, or others, can help with stress. Sometimes we dwell too much on our problems and let them control our minds. Sometimes the best thing for our stress levels is change our perspective.