Health means the individual's physical, social and mental well-being as a whole. The
definition of mental health can be a little more complicated. When we look at it in general
terms, we can consider mental health as the individual's ability to be in harmony and balance
with himself/herself and other people around him/her. An individual should be flexible to a
certain extent while adapting to himself/herself and his/her environment 1. According to the
World Health Organization (WHO), mental health: “Health is not only the absence of
physical disease or infirmity, but also the complete mental, physical and social integrity of the
person.” These definitions show us that the concept of health is multidimensional and should
be handled with all its dimensions.
The Effect of Mental Health on Physical Health
Having negative emotions and a poor mental state can worsen a person's physical condition.
Mental problems such as depression and anxiety can cause insomnia, physical pain, digestive
system problems or fatigue.
In addition, when a person is exposed to stress, stress hormones secreted in the body increase
blood pressure, that is, blood pressure. In this case, it can cause an increase in negative
emotions such as anger and aggression. If the persistently high levels of stress hormones in
the body continue, this may cause some changes in the chemistry of the brain. As a result, the
person may be prone to heart disease, sleep problems, or other chronic conditions.
How Can I Balance Physical and Mental Health?
Our body sends us signals when we are not feeling well. It is very important to listen to our
body and notice these signals. To protect our physical and mental well-being; 2
-It is very important to do activities that relax and relax us.
-Activities that are good for us, such as doing our hobbies, reading a book or taking a walk,
take us away from stress.
- Our mental well-being also affects our physical well-being a lot. For this reason, it is very
important to find a way to deal with our negative emotions.
Res. Asst. Simay Yılmaz
KAYNAKÇA
1-https://ruhsagligidernegi.org/ruh-sagligi/
2- https://www.medicana.com.tr/haber-detay/16109/ruh-ve-beden-sagligi-ayrilmaz-bir-
butundur
