When you think of mental health, the first thing that comes to mind may be the brain. Although the brain and mental health go hand in hand, mental health (or distress) significantly impacts the rest of the body, too. We refer to this as the mind-body connection, and the research supporting this idea continues to grow. As educated women, it’s essential to understand how mental health disorders can impact our physical health so we can identify and take care of these symptoms if they appear.
Take a look at some of these common ways that mental health concerns can impact the body:
- Sleep: Mental health challenges can lead to problems with sleep, and insufficient sleep can increase the risk and severity of mental health problems, resulting in a damaging cycle. Some people struggling with depression may find that they sleep excessively, while others may have problems falling asleep. Anxiety often causes challenges with staying asleep, with racing or intrusive thoughts making it difficult to fall back asleep.
- Gastrointestinal: You’ve likely heard the expression of having “a lump in your throat” or feeling something in the “pit of your stomach”. When someone is struggling with depression, anxiety, or excessive stress, it’s not unusual for it to present itself physically in the form of digestion issues. Whether it’s nausea, diarrhea, feeling excessively hungry, or not wanting to eat, these can all be indications that something is not quite right with your mind-body connection.
- Menstrual irregularity: Because hormone levels can be impacted by excessive, prolonged stress and some mental health problems, women may notice that their menstrual cycles become irregular. This may mean that bleeding is irregular and does not follow the typical cyclic pattern it used to follow. Although there are many other causes of period changes, mental health problems are one possible cause to be aware of.
- Muscle fatigue, aches, and pains: Mental health struggles and chronic stress can increase muscle tension. Some women may experience headaches, upper back and neck tightness, or a heightened sensitivity to aches and pains. Other women may notice increased fatigue with mental health problems or chronic high levels of stress. These physical symptoms are your body talking, telling you that something isn’t quite right.
- Hot flashes and night sweats: Chronic high levels of stress can make hot flashes and night sweats more severe for some women who may be approaching menopause or who have gone through menopause. Excessive stress can also exacerbate other symptoms of menopause, such as brain fog and mood swings.
All of these physical responses to stress and mental health issues are important to be aware of so that if they appear, you can tune into your mind-body connection and take steps to lower your stress levels and focus on reestablishing inner peace. At Diana Health, we prioritize your physical and mental health and recognize that they go hand in hand. We also believe that you deserve comprehensive treatment. Our mental health providers have additional training to work with women who may be struggling with anxiety, sadness, high levels of stress, and/or some of the physical symptoms discussed above. At Diana Health, you have options when it comes to mental health care: some women are interested in medication management for mental health management, while others prefer a talk-therapy approach. We are here to offer you both.
Learn more about our mental health services or book online. We are here to meet you where you’re at and help you take the next step to improve your mental and physical well-being. As always, you can reach out to your provider directly through the Diana Health app.
