When you hear or see the term ”Emotional Health”,what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Your responses could be being happy and calm, being able to feel and recognise every emotion ; be it sadness, grief, jealousy, pride or even excitement. It is all about how we think and feel when it comes to emotional health. A formal way to describe this is- it is about our sense of well-being, our ability to cope with life’s challenges, and how we identify our own and others’ emotions. It refers to your ability to manage both good and negative emotions, as well as your knowledge of them.People who are emotionally healthy have effective coping methods for negative feelings and know when to seek professional help.
People who are under a lot of stress and have a lot of negative emotions are more likely to develop other health issues. These problems are created by behaviours that negative emotions can affect due to a lack of regulating emotions, rather than by unpleasant feelings themselves. For example,some people indulge in smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol because it helps them relax. These practices, however, leave them at a higher risk for heart diseases, cancer, and other illnesses.As mental health is becoming more prominent, it is equally important to bring emotional well-being into the limelight.
In these difficult and unprecedented times, it is not only essential for everyone to be physically and mentally healthy, but to also keep an eye on their emotional health. We need to learn to manage our emotions well,expect to have a lot of mixed feelings, and to realise that feeling anxious, and maybe panicked, particularly when seeing headlines about new cases or deaths is completely natural.Interestingly, our anxiety is assisting us in coping, connecting to our loved ones from a distance, and slowing the spread of the virus. So, while anxiety is uncomfortable, it is a beneficial thing for us right now, only if we manage it well.
The question arises what advantages does being emotionally healthy provide us?
Positive thinking makes you feel more energetic and allows you to concentrate and think properly, but poor emotional health drains your brain resources and makes you fatigued.
The way you perceive yourself is influenced by your feelings, thoughts, and experiences. In the face of adversity, good emotional health allows you to recognise the best in yourself.
It’s easier to bond with others and show greater compassion and empathy when you have the ability to manage your emotions. You’ll also be able to hold arguments and communicate through your emotion and feelings more effectively.
Research indicates that emotional trauma weakens the immune system, making us more vulnerable to physical ailment,so emotional well-being will help us in making us resilient to stress and anxiety.
Almost everyone has experienced the tragedy of losing a loved one, and it is a dreadful thing to go through. Our soul and mind have been affected by our grief, sadness, and regret. But now is the time to recognise that each and everyone of us must remain strong and fight the Covid-19 pandemic by not only adhering to the guidelines for our physical health but also taking care of our emotional health .
Acknowledging every emotion,feeling and thought will help in getting to know ourselves better and in the case of anxiety or stress ,it will be easy to handle everything well.Being at home,rather than depressing ourselves by reading news about the horrific reality of this situation,we should make the best of it by doing activities that we enjoy.
Do not isolate yourself from the ones that you love, rather try to interact with them as much as you can.If you are having difficulty coping with a situation, try sharing your problem with family, friends,or someone with whom you can open up. Staying optimistic may be a cliché thing to say, but it is one of the most effective techniques for staying emotionally healthy. Learn to keep a positive attitude in life.
Embracing life as it is and ignoring the things we cannot control is the only way to obtain emotional peace. Indulge in activities that will help you to be more creative, or even activities that will help you to feel calm and collected. Reaching the milestone of being emotionally healthy isn’t really impossible, and while it may be challenging for most of us, understanding and keeping these few key points can help us achieve it.
By Aarushi Bisht, NEW DELHI
