Holiday Havoc on Your Body
The Holiday season is undoubtedly a very special time of year. From the tree, to the gifts, to the time spent with family, it’s a widely anticipated season that always seems to sneak up fast.
Though we don’t want to admit it, we all go through different waves of emotions at this time and these emotions can effect your body.
Your body responds to the way you think. When you feel stressed, anxious, or upset, your body reacts in a way that might tell you that something isn’t right. High blood pressure, stomach ulcers, or even headaches might be physical signs that your emotional health is out of balance.
“Our emotional and physical health are inextricably linked. Whether we’re happy or sad, our bodies respond physically to the way we think, feel and act,”
says Emotions’ Coach Shelly Smith*.
“Emotional health is about learning how to acknowledge the truth about our feelings and learning how to work with them versus trying to suppress and control them,” she adds.
Events such as having relatives over for the holidays, financial problems, a baby, or even a Christmas bonus can cause feelings of stress, sadness or anxiety that can disrupt your emotional and physical health. Remember, good changes can be just as stressful on you.
Our physical bodies are highly sensitive to our mental wellbeing. If your happy, your body reacts one way and if you’re sad another. This is part of the mind-body connection, and it’s extremely important to be cognizant of.
Some physical signs that your emotional health may be suffering are:
Change in appetite
Back pain
Dry mouth
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Headaches
Tiredness or insomnia
High blood pressure
Light headedness
Upset stomach
Heart Palpitations
As you can see, emotional health can have a large impact on your physical health. It can also weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to colds or flus.
Why should I talk to my doctor about my emotions?
It’s important to be open and honest with your doctor if you’re having these feelings so he or she can make sure that other health problems aren’t causing your physical symptoms. If your symptoms aren’t caused by other health problems, you and your doctor may be able to address the emotional causes of your symptoms, while treating your physical symptoms.
How can I improve my emotional health?
First and foremost, you need to recognize your emotions and understand why you are having them. Sorting out the causes of sadness, stress, and anxiety in your life can help you manage your emotional health.
Experts offer these other helpful tips:
Take care of yourself. To have good emotional health, it’s important to take care of your body by eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep, and exercising to relieve pent-up tension.
Calm your mind and body. Relaxation methods, such as meditation, listening to music, walking, yoga, and Tai Chi are useful ways to bring your emotions into balance.
Live a balanced life. Instead of obsessing about your problems in life, try focusing on the positive things in your life–research has shown that having a positive outlook can improve your quality of life and give your health a boost.
So for good health, it’s important to be attentive to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, whether positive or negative. Your emotional wellness impacts your quality of life as much as our physical health does.
At Balanced Physician Care, Dr Truty focuses on the complete you; emphasizing the connection of mind, body, and spirit.
Call today 904-930-4774, or go to www.balancedphysiciancare.com for more information.
January 5, 2017 @ 12:37 am
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