Mental health and emotional health are getting a lot of attention as of late in light of the COVID pandemic. They both play a significant role in your overall well-being and influence your thoughts and actions. Together, mental and emotional health act to help us process and properly respond to all of the different stresses in life. It is especially important to tend to your mental and emotional health since untreated mental or emotional problems may lead to substance abuse. While the terms mental and emotional health are often used interchangeably, they each carry a distinct meaning.
Mental Health
Mental health is a term familiar to most people, and it encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. More than just the absence of mental illness, mental health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stress of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to his or her community.” Mental health and emotional health can exist without the other; for example, you can have good mental health while not being able to properly understand and articulate your emotions.
Emotional Health
Good emotional health means you are aware of your emotions and are capable of managing and expressing them in an age-appropriate manner. Emotional health has to do with our responses to stress and how resilient we are through the highs and lows of life while mental health relates to how well our minds process experiences. Often the solution to emotional health struggles can be found within ourselves whereas symptoms of poor mental health require treatment by professionals. Steps to creating emotional health include learning how to identify your own emotions and understand their value, controlling these emotions, and modulating your mindset and behavior as needed.
Having good mental and emotional health is vital for thriving in life. Taking proper care of your mental and emotional health is highly important since untreated mental or emotional problems may lead to substance abuse. At Avalon Malibu, we treat many mental health disorders and related issues. We are one of the only residential treatment centers in California qualified to treat mental health and psychiatric illnesses where these concerns are the primary diagnosis. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can take control of your mental and emotional health, call us today at (844) 857-5992.
