The Link Between Physical and Mental Health
Our mind and body are intimately connected. Modern researchers are unearthing this knot of mind and body more closely than ever. This is an exceptionally promising field of investigation that falls within the realm of health psychology. Health psychologists analyse the many impacts of the mind on the body and vice versa. They believe it is possible to elevate someone’s lifestyle by changing the way the person thinks. To change the pattern of the individual’s thought, health psychologists employ many tools of cognitive behaviour therapy, in addition to lifestyle changes, transformation in the social network and so on.
Health psychologists look at the sum total of factors that govern a person’s overall quality of life. This can include tracking down the behavioural pattern that is harming an individual’s life. However, their approach also takes into account how a person’s or community’s overall lifestyle could be improved. This model of integrating a person’s mental well-being with their physical health is called a biopsychosocial model.
The biopsychosocial model
This model resolves a person’s overall state of health in three different forces meshing into a honeycomb of that person’s overall life. These three factors are respectively are: psychological, biological and social. Psychological describes the sum total of the person’s thought patterns, belief systems and inclinations; biological describes the individual’s overall physical health; and lastly, the sociological records the impact of life events and other individuals on the person’s overall being. Now, all these three factors can mutually align with each other and deliver the person an experience of life conducive to general welfare and overall well-being. When the forces for health nourish each other, the factors become somewhat like below:
A psychologist can work independently, as part of an institution or as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The primary objective of a psychologist is to assess, re-assess, evaluate and critically view individuals and society. In doing so, it falls in their responsibility to improve mental health and general well-being. However, there are many currents of approaches for this same goal. A rich history of diverse techniques and approaches has made the field of psychology ripe for unbeknownst research potential.
Psychological
Biological
Social
A healthy and non-toxic social circle, decent access to medical care and health education.
Psychological
Chronic stress, anxiety, low endurance and resilience, negative thoughts, suspicions, paranoia, obsessions, overly aggressive personality.
Biological
Poor diet, predisposition to disease, smoking, pollution and addiction.
Social
Loneliness, poverty, abuse, exploitation, relationship trauma.
The impacts of stress on your body
Nervous system
Headaches, irritability, nervousness, heightened sensibility.
Cardiovascular system
Escalated heartbeats and raised blood pressure and hypertension.
Respiratory system
Rapid, shallow and frequent breathing with tense muscles.
Gastrointestinal systems
Nausea, pain in the stomach, diarrhoea, constipation, pain, heartburn.
Musculoskeletal system
Muscle aches and pains, particularly in the neck, shoulders and back.
Reproductive system
Stress could lead to irregular menstruation and reduced libido in women while being capable of endangering impotence in men.