Mental health is as vital as our physical health

One of the striking questions during the recent Miss Philippines competition was raised by actor Daniel Padilla: “Is mental health as important as physical health?”

What do you think? For me, mental health has a correlation with our physical health.  When we are physically healthy, we can also be mentally healthy or vice-versa, although our genes also has an important role in our physical and mental mechanism. When we exercise, for example, a chemical called endorphin is produced in our body that makes us feel good, thereby, it can help us look at life in a positive way.

We cannot separate body and mind because they are intertwined as we deal with life. If we are mentally and physically healthy, we can deal life’s challenges positively. No matter how difficult the problem we might be facing, we ‘know’ that there’s a solution. Being physically and mentally healthy, we can look at life not with an empty glass so to speak, but only half empty. That there’s more to life than looking at it in a narrow perspective.

Cori Dixon-Fyle a psychotherapist exclaims, “Mental health encompasses our psychological, emotional, mental and social wellbeing. It helps lay the groundwork for how we live in this world. This includes everything from how we cope with daily stressors to how we relate to others.”

Do you want to feel and look healthy, physically and mentally?  Here are some tips from the wikiHow.com website:

• Drink water. Drinking water gives you energy and helps you through the day. Water also makes your skin look good and  feel great. Drinking eight glasses of water scattered throughout the day is good for your health.

• Follow the food pyramid. Get six or more servings of bread and cereal, two to five servings of fruits and vegetables, two servings of dairy and meat.  You can eat fats, oils and sweet occasionally.

• Get enough sleep. Make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep. If you are under 13 years old, get 10 to11 hours of sleep each night. If you don’t, you won’t be able to function well mentally and physically.

• Take care of your teeth. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss and use mouthwash.

• Read. Read at least once a day, especially on the weekends and summer when you’re not in school or work. Reading will keep your mind healthy and moving.

• Exercise. Keep a daily routine to exercise your mind as well as your body.

• Relax. Be sure to make time to spare for yourself every day. Use that time to engage in a relaxing technique to clear off your mind and body of the stress and fatigue received during the day.

• Pray and count your blessings. It is true that when you are grateful of the blessings that the Lord has showered, you become more optimistic about your future and boost your mental health. With prayer, it can change your negative perspective  in life. Trusting the Lord of His kindness  and mercy helps us not to become worrisome.