How Does Mental Illness Affect Physical Health? 

Shift Grit is changing how Edmonton families address their psychological needs by providing affordable and accessible professional therapy services.

They are a psychologist in Edmonton that specializes in treating anxiety, depression, and related issues with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

We also offer online counseling for those who don’t live near Edmonton and want to talk in a more private setting.

Physical and Mental Health

Now Let us discuss mental health illness. 

Now Let us discuss mental health illness. 

A rush of anxiousness suddenly overtakes you after feeling dreadfully down for the previous week.

Your belly, back, and limbs start to hurt strangely at about the same time. You could even develop a headache and begin to feel sluggish and exhausted.

Is it only poor luck, or do the two problems have a connection?

Mental illness is not only “all in your head,” as is commonly believed. Yes, it affects your brain, but considering that your brain also influences the whole of your body, it seems reasonable that a mental illness would also make you feel sick.

Please visit a psychologist in Edmonton to recover from your mental illness.

As a result, if you have undiagnosed pain, it may be related to your mental well-being. Numerous physical symptoms, including tense muscles, discomfort, headaches, sleeplessness, and uneasiness, can be present in individuals with a mental illness.

They could also have “mental fog,” a condition in which your focus and attention are impaired, and you have trouble focusing or remembering things.

Anxiety can lead to stomach discomfort as well. Some people’s tummies, like butterflies, might merely flutter a little from this. On the other hand, it can result in diarrhea or a stomachache.

Many individuals face nausea from time to time when they are nervous or attempting a new activity.

Worried people could always feel this way, and as their anxiety and stress levels increase, their symptoms might get worse and develop into headaches or diarrhea.

“Psychosomatic sickness” describes circumstances when your mental state either initiates or exacerbates physical symptoms. Contrary to popular belief, psychosomatic symptoms have a psychological origin.

Nevertheless, many people wrongly believe that they are not actual symptoms. But how is it that mental stress may lead to physical ill-health? How can you make a change? 

How much psychological stress results in physical consequences? 

How much psychological stress results in physical consequences

A “flight-or-fight” response to danger may be a concept you are already familiar with. When we sense danger, our bodies get ready to either face it head-on (fight) or get away from it (run away) (flight).

Our bodies create excessive amounts of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. The immune and digestive systems are affected, and the blood pressure and heart rate are also increased.

To help us use a lot of physical power, which would be required if we were to fight or run away from danger. Once the threat has passed, our bodies frequently return to sleep.

It is an evolutionary response that is intended to keep you safe. It’s not always bad if it helps you avoid or overcome danger.

One should experience “optimal stress or optimal anxiety” to boost motivation to the maximum extent feasible.

This is how concern works to provide you with the inspiration and passion required to complete many of your everyday tasks, along with the slight degree of strain it generates.

You might seriously harm your health if you are always concerned or agitated. You seldom return to a “resting” state due to constant stress, which keeps your hormone and adrenaline concentrations elevated.

It could hurt your bodily functions and organs. You can also find it more challenging to handle discomfort if you’re feeling anxious or depressed.

Serotonin and norepinephrine, the two neurotransmitters in charge of signaling pain in the nerve and cerebral systems and the brain areas responsible for pain reception, are also associated with anxiety and depression.

Prolonged stress can cause the following symptoms:

  • Headaches
  • Migraine
  • strain and pain in the muscles
  • Stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and appetite fluctuations are examples of digestive problems
  • sleep abnormalities or problems
  • sensations of lassitude

Additional physical indicators of depression include:

  • Severe gastrointestinal discomfort
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • vision problems

Stress and trauma can also cause autoimmune disorders, such as high blood pressure, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.