People of all ages live with a sense of fear about health. Health is something that everyone strives for and rarely has the opportunity to achieve. We often take the health of others for granted, treating them as an abstraction. Health is something we can learn and improve upon.
Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is, “an overall condition of health that includes physical, mental and emotional well-being, and not just the absence of sickness and disease.” Over the years, various definitions have been applied to the overall quality of life. Some focus on the elements of health, such as the importance of a balanced diet and exercise, while others are more focused on the specific aspects of health, such as good health and a low self-incident rate. One current definition is, “excess body weight in a safe and appropriate manner, not causing harm.” These elements are all important towards creating a healthy mind and body, but the real key to a healthy life is a proper balance of all the components.
Proper balance between the mind and body is very important to achieving a sense of general well being. Achieving mental health is also important for the physical health of the individual. When a person’s physical health is suffering, they are likely to experience emotional pain and suffering, which can lead to a number of serious illnesses, including cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. The mental aspects of health can also lead to depression, which is very common in those who suffer from an imbalance between the physical and mental health. Therefore, improving one’s mental health can lead to a significant improvement in the physical health as well.
Many people, when defining their level of personal well-being, do not pay attention to their emotional well-being, even if they suffer from an imbalance between the two. Emotional well-being is an important component to a complete mental and physical health plan. It is through this component that the emotional health of an individual can be realized. When someone has poor emotional well-being, they often lack the ability to enjoy good health.
All aspects of health and wellness are important for the maintenance of a happy life. However, people who have some form of mental illness are at even greater risk of living with poor health conditions. As people with mental illness are often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, they can suffer for a long time before receiving the treatment that they need, which can be emotionally, physically, and mentally detrimental. Those who live with a mental illness should make sure that they take a comprehensive approach to achieving a total well-being plan.
People with mental illness should consider all the options available to them to improve their quality of life and eliminate the risk factors associated with their illness. This means that they should choose a comprehensive treatment plan that includes both medication as well as therapy to address their emotional and physical needs. A good treatment plan will help to relieve the symptoms associated with the disorder as well as educate the patient on how to prevent recurrences of the disorder. Once a person’s wellness has been achieved, they can look forward to more productive, happy lives and better health. A good health plan that addresses the full spectrum of well-being goals will help to ensure a consistent level of wellness throughout the patient’s entire life.