Emotional health what is it

Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem:. Learn more about specific mental health problems and where to find help. Page title What Is Mental Health? Main page content Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including: Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse Family history of mental health problems Mental health problems are common but help is available.

They can keep problems in perspective and bounce back from setbacks. They feel good about themselves and have good relationships. Emotionally healthy people still feel stress, anger, and sadness.

But they know how to manage their negative feelings. They can tell when a problem is more than they can handle on their own. They also know when to seek help from their doctor. Research shows that emotional health is a skill. There are steps you can take to improve your emotional health and be happier.

Emotional health allows you to work productively and cope with the stresses of everyday life. It can help you realize your full potential. It helps you work with other people and contribute to society. It also affects your physical health. Research shows a link between an upbeat mental state and physical signs of good health. These include lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease, and a healthier weight. People who have good emotional health can still have emotional problems or mental illness.

Mental illness often has a physical cause. This could be from a chemical imbalance in the brain. Stress and problems with family, work, or school can trigger mental illness or make it worse. Counseling, support groups, and medicines can help people who have emotional problems or mental illness.

Learn how to strengthen friendships and family ties and manage toxic relationships. Find out how to relieve everyday stress, improve your attitude, and change the bad habits that are holding you back. In our Emotional Health discussion forums and blogs, people are talking about topics related to stress, depression, and anxiety; bipolar disorder; children's emotional health; therapists ; and other emotional health issues.

Don't see any threads of interest? Start a conversation about stress or other emotional health issues. Join in the discussion and learn from others who are facing emotional health problems.

See all Emotional Health Discussion Forums. September 8, - 23 min read. Share this article. Jump to section What is emotional health? Real-world examples of emotional health Final thoughts. Modern life can be a challenge. What is emotional health? Mental health is broader than emotional health The scope of mental health is far wider than that of emotional health. Processing information vs expressing emotion Emotional health and emotional well-being are about how well we manage our emotions and the impact our emotions have on us and the people around us.

Emotional health doesn't equal mental health One distinction between emotional and mental health is that someone can be in a good place with their emotional health but still struggle with their mental health or experience mental health problems. Here are a few strategies to maintain your emotional health: Image Source 8 signs that are you are struggling with emotional health Stress is a normal part of life, and — unfortunately — there's no making it go away.

If you're experiencing any of the following, it may be a sign that you're struggling with emotional problems: You feel drained all the time or have energy than usual You're either sleeping too much or too little Your performance at work is beginning to suffer Taking care of your hygiene and personal health feels like too much You find that you're eating too much or too little You're often anxious or irritated with loved ones You have physical symptoms of stress, like high blood pressure or heart palpitations Your confidence or self-esteem is affected.

They're self-aware Someone who is self-aware can perceive themselves accurately and understands how their behavior comes across to others. They have emotional agility Emotional agility, similar to cognitive agility , refers to an individual's ability to deal with stressors and discomfort in work and life.

They have strong coping skills Emotionally healthy individuals tend to have strong and healthy coping skills that help them in testing and trying circumstances. Some of these healthy coping skills include Practicing meditation and relaxation techniques.

Spending time with friends. Finding time for hobbies. A few more strategies: Image Source 4. They live with purpose Purpose means different things for different people, and our own sense of purpose often intertwines with the goals we set ourselves. They manage their stress levels Facing stress is a certainty for everyone , but emotionally healthy people tend to have successful strategies they can rely on to manage their stress levels.

Are you feeling stressed at work? Is your relationship causing you stress? Identifying what's causing stress in your life makes it easier to start implementing stress management strategies: Image Source.

How to achieve emotional health? Cultivate a positive mindset While you may not always find yourself in positive circumstances, it is always possible to see the positive in every situation, and there are steps you can take to cultivate a positive mindset. Start and maintain an exercise regime. Meditate for a few minutes every day. Carry out random acts of kindness. Journal about a positive experience for two minutes every day.

Seek or accept help and support from others Whether it's a qualified professional, a friend, or a family member, seeking help from someone you can rely on for support can make all the difference when you're going through a difficult time. Practice gratitude in your daily life Being grateful for your situation shifts your mindset from wanting more to being thankful for what you have.

Ways you can do this include: Start a gratitude journal and add to it every day. Show humility and be open to new experiences and new points of view. Curiosity Being curious about your own mind is one way to start actively engaging with your own emotional health.

Sharing feelings appropriately Having someone to confide in can have massive benefits to your emotional health. Noticing and facing emotions when they arise Identifying emotions when they arise can be a great way of diffusing that emotion and coming to terms with it. Real-world examples of emotional health While it's useful to have seen some examples and characteristics of emotional health, it's nice to be able to see what strong emotional health looks like in everyday situations.

Example 1. Making time every Saturday morning to meet up with friends at a local community dog walking event. Making the most of the benefits her employer provides by going to the gym regularly and visiting her physiotherapist once a month.