San Diego Psychotherapy for Health Issues 

Finding a Therapist for Help with Overall Health Issues 

How do emotions affect health?

Can stress contribute to health issues?

What are the factors that contribute to health issues?

Health issues occur when the normal metabolisms of the body fail or are altered by pathogens, pollutants, or other means that cause health problems that are considered diseases. Sometimes these issues can be genetic, in which the person might have inherited the disease-causing gene from their parents. 

Few things impact your life more than a serious health issue. Chronic diseases affect the health of millions of people and cost billions of dollars in medical expenses each year. Lifestyle choices, such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and diet, and being physically active, can help prevent some of the most chronic diseases. Regular health screenings can often discover chronic conditions early when treatment is more likely to be successful. Both mind and body are affected by changes to physiological and emotional processes. If your health issues are impacting your mental wellness, contact the experienced therapists at Clear Mind Counseling in San Diego today to schedule an appointment.

Certain factors may increase your risk of developing a mental illness, including a history of mental illness in a blood relative, like a parent or sibling. Stressful life situations, such as financial problems, the death of a loved one, or a divorce are additional factors. Others include: 

  • A chronic medical condition (e.g. diabetes)

  • Traumatic experiences (e.g. military combat; assault)

  • Alcohol or recreational drug use

  • A childhood history of abuse or neglect

  • Few friends or few healthy relationships

  • A previous mental illness

Untreated, a severe mental illness can cause harmful emotional, behavioral, and physical health problems. Complications often linked to mental illness include:

  • Unhappiness and decrease enjoyment of life

  • Relationship issues

  • Family conflicts

  • Social isolation

  • Legal and financial problems

  • Tobacco, alcohol, and drug problems

  • Self-harm and harm to others

  • Heart disease and other medical conditions

  • Weakened immune system

Many factors that happen in life can disrupt your emotional health. These factors can lead to sadness, stress, or anxiety. Some of these factors include:

  • Loss of a job

  • Death of a loved one

  • Illness or injury

  • Moving to a new home

  • New birth or adoption

Your body responds to the way you think, feel, and act. When you are stressed, anxious, or upset, your body reacts in ways that tell you something isn’t right. For example, you might develop high blood pressure or an ulcer after a stressful event, like losing your job.

Your mental health plays an important role in your general well-being. Being in a good frame of mind can keep you healthy and help prevent serious health conditions. A positive psychological well-being can decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes. On the flipside, poor mental health can lead to poor physical health and harmful behaviors. 

Improving your well-being should include taking care of both your physical and mental health. Taking care of yourself should include:

  • Getting regular exercise

  • Eating a proper diet

  • Getting enough sleep

  • Trying relaxation techniques

  • Developing good mental practices

  • Seeking help from others

Mental health and physical health are basically linked. People living with a serious mental illness are at a higher risk of experiencing a wide range of chronic physical conditions. Contrarily, people living with chronic health issues experience depression and anxiety at twice the rate of the general population.

Chronic Diseases: Depression has been linked to many chronic diseases including diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and heart disease.

Schizophrenia: Has been linked to a higher risk of heart and respiratory diseases.

Sleep Disorders: People with mental health issues are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders, like insomnia or sleep apnea.

Smoking: People with mental health conditions are more likely to smoke than those who do not have mental health conditions.

Your physical well-being has an impact on your mental health. For example, psoriasis, the painful skin condition, has been linked to acute stress and depression. Being diagnosed with cancer or having a heart attack can also lead to feelings of depression and anxiety.

Co-existing mental and physical conditions can reduce quality of life and eventually lead to longer illness duration and worse health outcomes. Understanding the links between mind and body is the first step in generating strategies to reduce the incidence of co-existing conditions.

Stress

Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed or the inability to cope with mental or emotional pressure. No condition is more linked to how a feeling can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior, than stress.

Here are some common effects of stress:

On Your Body                          On Your Mood                       On Your Behavior

Headache                                      Anxiety                               Overeating or Not eating

Muscle Pain                             Restlessness                               Angry Outbursts

Fatigue                             Feeling Overwhelmed                             Smoking     

Sex Drive Changes              Irritability or Anger                      Social Withdrawal

Consider seeking the help of a professional counselor or therapist for health issues, including stress. A professional will be able to help you identify the causes of your issues and help you develop tools on how to cope. If you are experiencing health issues impacting your mental wellness, contact the therapists at Clear Mind Counseling in San Diego.