May is traditionally Mental Health Awareness month. Since my professional life has been immersed in mental health for so long, I forget that there continues to be a broad lack of understanding about it and that there remains stigma for many in this area. And I guess it surprises me, because I don’t really distinguish between mental health and physical health. I know how intertwined they are, how each impacts the other, and I also consider the brain and nervous system part of the physical body.
Allergies vs. Anxiety
Imagine if you were to develop sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, sore throat, and congestion as the seasons change. You might suspect allergies. But what if society had decided that having allergies are a sign of weakness? And that truly, allergies are just in your head and you need to just snap out of it? What if also the belief was that only certain kinds of people get allergies and that it’s shameful or embarrassing to try to get help for them? What if society had also decided that kids can’t have allergies? Or that talking about allergies will only make them worse?
As part of the 25% of the population that deals with seasonal allergies, I know that’s pretty ludicrous. I occasionally have allergy flare-ups and seek extra help to get through it. And when I discuss these difficulties with people in my life, I’ve never experienced it worsening just by talking about it. And every time I go into the allergy clinic there are a whole lot of people there, kids and adults, from all across the spectrum. Over the years I’ve learned a lot of ways to manage my allergy symptoms that have helped me tremendously, and I’m thankful for that.
I also have occasional anxiety flare-ups, along with an estimated 20-30% of the population. Yes, nearly as many or possibly more people deal with some kind of anxiety issue within their lives than suffer seasonal allergies. Substitute “anxiety” for “allergies” in the second paragraph of this post, and it’s apparent to see that misconceptions and stigma remains.
I seek extra help to deal with anxiety flare-ups too. When I talk to others about it, it doesn’t make it worse. From my many years of being a mental health provider, I know anxiety impacts kids and adults from all across the spectrum as well. And I have also learned ways to manage these flare-ups over the years that have helped me tremendously, which I’m just as thankful for. And I hope I’ve been able to help others too.
Allergies are an immune response within the body against certain substances that are relatively harmless. The immune system, which is there to protect against certain infections and diseases, can sometimes be overactive about particular things. It’s not a conscious choice that makes the immune response happen.
Anxiety is an activation of the body’s fight-or-flight response, the nervous system response to deal with threats and stay alive. In modern life there are many things that activate this system, even if it’s not a life or death situation, such as stress, past trauma, worries, multiple competing demands of day-to-day life. The nervous system can also be overactive about particular things. And it’s also not a conscious choice to make the fight-or-flight response happen.
So why is one a straightforward health issue without any stigma, but the other continues to have such misunderstanding and judgment about it? They’re both body system responses that are not brought about on purpose. It’s so curious.
Biological Roots
There seems to be a hereditary component with some health concerns, both physical and mental. Major Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are just some of the mental health issues in which genetics may play a role. Heart Disease, Asthma, Diabetes, High Cholesterol are an example of some physical health concerns in which genetics may play a role. It doesn’t mean one will develop these issues if a parent or family member has them, but there may be an elevated risk.
Body Chemistry
The body is host to a wide range of chemical processes that make living possible. There can be imbalances in these processes that contribute to both mental health and physical health conditions. For instance, an imbalance in neurotransmitter systems, the chemical messengers in the brain, are associated with some mental health related issues such as Depression, Bipolar, and Anxiety Disorders. Chemical imbalances that occur in other parts of the body can contribute to physical health related issues such as Diabetes, Thyroid Disorders, and Adrenal disorders. Any chemical imbalance in the body can create difficulties.
Physical Health Effects of Mental Health Conditions
Mental health issues often manifest physically. It’s not uncommon to see physical impacts of mental health concerns such as changes in appetite, sleep disturbance, muscle tension and pain, gastrointestinal issues, skin conditions, cardiovascular, and respiratory symptoms. It’s not “all in the head.”
Mental Health Effects of Physical Health Conditions
Conversely, physical health issues can also manifest mentally. A number of physical health conditions impact mental health including issues with chronic pain and chronic illness, endocrine disorders, autoimmune disorders, and cardiovascular disease. For example, up to 40% of patients recovering from heart surgery experience depression.
Mind-Body Connection
There seems to be an important interplay between thoughts, emotions, behavior, and physical health that hasn’t been widely acknowledged until recent history. Studies show that chronic stress can impact the development of metabolic issues, which can lead to chronic health issues and shorter life span. On the positive side, physical exercise can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. There’s clearly an important connection between the mind and the body.
A promising recent study published by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, shows a “literal linkage” between the body and mind which seems to exemplify the connection of why calming the body, such as in meditation, also calms the mind. Evan M. Gordon, PhD, one of the researchers in this study, says, “We’ve found the place where the highly active, goal-oriented ‘go, go, go’ part of your mind connects to the parts of the brain that control breathing and heart rate. If you calm one down, it absolutely should have feedback effects on the other.”
This has certainly been true for me in mindfulness meditation practice and it’s exciting to see research honing in on the actual linkages in the brain where this happens. Mindfulness-based programs have shown a positive impact not only for anxiety, stress and depression, but also for people experiencing chronic health conditions, chronic pain, and even psoriasis.
One day perhaps we’ll have a greater understanding of all of these interconnections and will no longer have such separation of physical health from mental health. But before we reach that day, I hope the stigma and deep misconceptions about mental health can be become a thing of the past.
There are many effective treatment options for mental health concerns, just as there are for physical health concerns. But the stigma can make people resist seeking out support. Please help by not judging yourself or others for dealing with a mental health issue, by talking openly and compassionately about it, and by learning more about the mind-body connection in order to recognize that mental health is also physical health.