Some people don’t understand what it means when people say, “Mental health is just as important as physical health.” After all, if I break my leg, I can’t walk. I still can if I’m depressed. How are those two things even comparable? However, did you know your mental health directly affects your physical health? When treating mental health in Upper Marlboro, MD Silver Spring, MD, we often see these physical symptoms in our patients.
Weight Issues
Your legs might let you run, but your mind takes you to the gym. All kinds of mental illnesses can cause problems for people attempting to maintain a healthy body weight. Disorders like ADHD, for example, cause trouble forming habits and remembering plans. That can lead to spending too much time and money on takeout and not enough on healthy eating and exercise. From the opposite end of the spectrum, disorders like depression can kill your appetite and make eating feel like a chore. Eating disorders make eating anything feel like a moral failure. All of this contributes to unhealthy body weight, which is the source of numerous health problems. If you know someone suffering from weight issues, mental health care might help them immensely.
Blood Pressure
Most people intuitively understand the link between anxiety and high blood pressure. Yet few people think of the effects of an anxiety disorder on heart health. When you suffer from an anxiety disorder, your body remains in a heightened state of anxiety for long periods. That means your blood pressure can remain unnecessarily elevated. Learning to manage stress can reduce your blood pressure and improve your overall health.
Self-harm
The human brain is supposed to want to protect the body. Overriding the brain’s self-preservation instinct is always a sign of a disorder. Self-harm can be subtle at first. Many people living with mental illness use self-harm to give themselves a feeling of control. However, self-harm tends to escalate if it’s left untreated. Please reach out if you or a loved one needs mental health care in Upper Marlboro, MD Silver Spring, MD.
Contact Us
Mental health issues directly impact your body’s health. If you want to get the most out of your life, start by caring for your mental well-being. Contact Dr. Takem of Maryland Primary Care and Wellness to make an appointment. Dial (301) 627-3500 for Upper Marlboro and (301) 946-6420 for Silver Spring. Call us today to help keep your mind healthy.