We’ve all heard sayings like, “Healthy mind, healthy body,” but what does that really mean?
In the simplest sense, it means that your physical health and mental health are deeply connected. And, as a result, you must take care of both. You wouldn’t ignore a broken bone, would you? Then you should not ignore any indicators of a mental health problem.
Not only does leaving mental illness untreated affect your well-being—including how well you can function and find purpose in your daily life—it also has the power to affect your body over time. In fact, research shows that those struggling with mental illness have a much shorter life expectancy (by roughly 15 years) than those without, often due to preventable physical health conditions like heart disease.
If you are concerned about your mental health or a loved one’s, and wondering how it might affect the body over time, you are in the right place. We’ll explore the ways in which mental illness and physical health are impacted by one another, below.
How Mental Illness Affects the Body
Mental illnesses range from mood to personality disorders, which have the ability to affect the body in different ways. However, generally speaking, there are a few common examples of mental illness having an impact on a person’s physical health:
- Mental health disorders exhibit physical symptoms.
Because the body and the brain are so interconnected, mental health struggles can bring about physical aches and pains. Oftentimes, this is because mental distress triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response, releasing stress hormones like cortisol, which take a toll on the body over time. Physical symptoms of mental illness can include, but are not limited to:
- Headaches and migraines
- Dizziness and brain fog
- Digestive issues like cramps, nausea, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Cardiovascular issues like a racing heart or tightness in one’s chest
- Muscle aches and joint pain, without explanation
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue and low energy
- Mental illness disturbs sleep and weakens the immune system.
Whether it’s due to racing thoughts at night, intense nightmares and flashbacks, or random bursts of energy, mental illness can significantly disrupt a person’s sleep cycle. In fact, research shows that up to 70% of patients with anxiety, and up to 90% of patients with depression, experience prominent sleep disturbances. And the lack of sleep they’re getting does not just mean increased tiredness. It can also lead to a suppressed immune system and long-term physical effects.
Sleep is critical for immune function, with every night acting as a restorative period for the body to fight infection and produce antibodies. When someone is deprived from sleep, therefore, it increases their susceptibility to sickness and their risk of inflammation. Now, combine poor sleep with chronic stress? You’ve got a recipe for physical downturn.
The elevated levels of cortisol in the body, as mentioned previously, also can weaken the immune system by reducing white blood cells and creating an environment for chronic, systemic inflammation.
- Certain mental health conditions are linked to chronic disease.
Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression can increase a person’s risk of developing physical health conditions. For example, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “People who have depression are at higher risk of developing certain chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, pain, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.”
The reason for the connection between mental illness and chronic disease is unclear, but could be due to challenges in receiving medical care, keeping up with one’s self-care at home, and the weakened immune system, as discussed earlier in this article.
- Mental illness can cause you to neglect your physical health.
When you are struggling with depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition, the symptoms can be all-consuming. It’s easy for things like nutritious eating, exercise, and even personal hygiene to get de-prioritized. For example, those with depression might struggle to get out of bed or find self-worth, which in turn means abandoning brushing their teeth or taking showers for days on end. Over time, the loss of these habits can derail their physical health.
In another example, those coping with trauma or anxiety might experience significant changes in eating habits. They might eat a lot more to cope with negative feelings, or eat much less than normal due to a suppressed appetite. In these individuals, sudden weight loss or weight gain is common.
- Mental illness can increase your risk of substance abuse and addiction.
It’s no secret that substance abuse and mental health are also closely linked. When a person is battling depression, anxiety, trauma, schizophrenia, or other mental illnesses, they may reach for drugs and alcohol to escape from the negative thoughts. This, of course, can disrupt their physical health. Using drugs and alcohol can increase a person’s risk of addiction (i.e. a substance use disorder) and drug overdose. It can also put them at greater risk for additional physical health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease, and even certain cancers.
How Physical Illness Affects the Mind
The relationship between mental health and physical health is bi-directional. While mental illness can affect the body in many different ways, it’s important to note that a person’s physical health can also play a role in their mental state.
Research shows that people facing chronic disease, for example, are at a heightened risk of depression. Certain neurological conditions can increase a person’s risk of developing depression and anxiety, and certain medications (used to treat physical illness) come with mental health warning labels. Additionally, those struggling with a chronic illness for a long period of time may begin to develop a lower quality of life or sense of self-worth, leading to issues with depression, anxiety, trauma, and more.
Why You Cannot Leave Mental Illness Untreated
When mental illness is left untreated, a person increases their risk of illness, infection, and—what we haven’t yet covered—exacerbated symptoms of both physical health and mental health conditions. You see, when a person is battling co-occurring mental and physical disorders, they tend to experience more severe symptoms of both. As you can imagine, this takes a significant toll over time.
As a result, it’s critical to get help as soon as you can. If you’re struggling with any symptoms of mental illness, and you’re concerned about your physical health (or vice versa!), do not hesitate to reach out to a treatment professional. Look for a professional that offers holistic, personalized care—one that will give you a treatment plan taking into consideration all of your health needs: physical, mental, social, and more. The most effective type of mental health treatment is one that is integrated and tailored to your individual needs at every level.
Turnbridge is here for guidance if and when you need it. As a teen and young adult mental health treatment provider, we understand the complexities of mental illness, substance abuse, eating disorders, and the way they can interfere with a person’s physical health. We are happy to talk to you about your treatment options and come up with a plan that meets your needs entirely.
Call 877-581-1793 to speak with a specialist today.