{"id":17797,"date":"2022-05-23T09:49:34","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T09:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ritusingal.com\/?p=4766"},"modified":"2026-02-17T06:39:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T06:39:01","slug":"mental-health-the-royal-road-to-a-happy-and-fulfilling-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webdevelopmentpro.online\/ritusingal\/blog\/mental-health-the-royal-road-to-a-happy-and-fulfilling-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Health: The Royal Road to a Happy, Fulfilling Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Physical health adds years to life but mental health adds life to those years.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The tremendous advances in medical science apart, the idea of mental health as part of holistic well-being still doesn\u2019t evoke the interest it deserves, at least in the developing world. To some extent, this indifference is understandable given that a majority of such countries are still struggling with the more mundane issues of poverty, hunger, unemployment and basic medical facilities. Given this situation, any talk of mental health is, quite expectedly, greeted with derision, at worst and indifference, at best. The revolution in mental health care<\/a><\/strong> in terms of its open acceptance and de-stigmatization will require a concerted effort by governments across the world, awareness campaigns and improved economic well-being.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Managing mental health during COVID-19 has become even a bigger challenge given the severe restrictions on economic and social activities globally. For professionals managing mental health during COVID-19, there has been a record rise in the number of mentally sick people. I, being a life coach, get to talk to many people having such problems. Such problems contribute to the issues which people bring to a life coach<\/a><\/strong>. The life coach needs to work with the client on such issues to realize the most from the consultation process.<\/span><\/p>\n

And from my experience, I can tell you that we need to get a strong handle on \u201cmental health\u201d first before we proceed. Contrary to common perception, mental health is <\/span>NOT just \u201cthe absence of mental disorders or disabilities.\u201d Rather, it is a positive state of well-being in which an individual realizes his\/her abilities, can cope with normal stresses, works productively, and makes a contribution to the community. In other words, it refers to the overall cognitive, behavioral, and emotional well-being of an individual.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits of Good Mental Health<\/b><\/h2>\n

Better Coping<\/b><\/h4>\n

With good mental health, challenges are easier to overcome. Whereas some people take to alcohol\/drugs, withdrawal or fighting as coping mechanisms to manage relationship disputes, financial worries, workplace challenges and other issues, a mentally healthy person tends to adopt healthier solution-oriented coping mechanisms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enhanced Quality of Life<\/b><\/h4>\n

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With mental well-being comes better quality of life, thereby making room for greater participation in community building e.g. volunteering, taking up local causes, fundraising etc. One is also more likely to pick up new hobbies, make new acquaintances, and travel more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Positive Self-Image<\/b><\/h4>\n

Mental health is strongly linked to self-perception as it plays a big part in building self-esteem. Self-confidence is very often a good indicator of a healthy mind. A mentally healthy person is more likely to focus on the good in themselves and hone it and is fired by the ambitions of a healthy, happy life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthier Relationships<\/b><\/h4>\n

With good mental health, you are more capable of having quality time, affection and support with your friends and family. Besides, with there being no emotional distress, it is easier to support the people you care for, when they need it. One cannot expect an unhealthy person to support another unhealthy person!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>Higher Productivity<\/b><\/h3>\n

Depression or other such disorders affect productivity negatively. A mentally strong person is more likely to work more efficiently and produce good quality work.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Factors in Mental Health<\/b><\/h4>\n

Given this background, it is obvious that mental health affects all aspects of daily living, relationships and overall health. Conditions like stress, depression, and anxiety can all affect mental health, thereby disrupting a person\u2019s routine. Besides, many psychological disorders are rooted in biological factors as discussed below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Across the world, mental disorders are a leading cause of physical and mental distress, bad relationships, poor productivity, absenteeism, reduced performance and suicides. Unfortunately, as of now, we do not know much about the exact causes of many such disorders. But ongoing medical research has made it amply clear that most of them result from a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Social and financial circumstances, biological factors, and lifestyle choices can all shape a person\u2019s mental health. Good mental health depends on a delicate balance of various factors and elements of life and the world at large that work together to contribute to such disorders.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Biological Factors<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Some common mental illnesses like depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are linked to abnormal functioning of neural circuits in the brain. These circuits interact with each other through a give-and-take of neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine etc.). Therefore, a popular approach to the treatment of such diseases is tweaking these chemicals through medicines or psychotherapy to help the brain circuits work more efficiently. Besides, some defects\/injuries to certain brain areas are also linked to some mental conditions like memory loss, loss of speech etc..<\/span><\/p>\n

    2. Genes<\/b><\/p>\n

    Many mental illnesses often run in families as they are rooted in genes. Mental illnesses are linked to many genes working together rather than one of them or a few. How they interact with the environment is unique in case of every person. That\u2019s why developing targeted drugs for such diseases often becomes a big challenge for researchers. The revolution in mental health care would necessitate more of such genome sequencing so that medical researchers can develop more targeted drugs to treat many such disorders.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

    That also explains why some people inherit a tendency for a mental illness but don’t necessarily develop it as the illness occurs due to multiple genes interacting among themselves and other triggering factors like stress, abuse, or trauma. It\u2019s quite similar to the way diabetes develops i.e. one may be born with the genes for it, but whether one actually develops diabetes is also a function of environmental factors like weight, exercise, nutrition, stress etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

    3. <\/b>Infections<\/b><\/p>\n

    Some kinds of infections are often linked to brain damage and mental illnesses or the deterioration of their symptoms. For instance, the pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDAS) attributed to <\/span>Streptococcus<\/span><\/i> bacteria causes an obsessive-compulsive disorder among children.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a04. <\/span>Brain defects\/injuries<\/b><\/p>\n

    Certain defects\/ injuries in certain brain regions can cause some mental illnesses e.g. damage to the hippocampus, which results in amnesia.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a05. <\/b>Pre-natal damage<\/b><\/p>\n

    Birth traumas like the shortage of oxygen can disrupt and arrest early fetal brain development, which may, in turn, trigger certain conditions like autism.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a06. <\/span>Substance abuse<\/b><\/p>\n

    Long-term substance abuse is linked to problems like anxiety, depression, and paranoia.<\/span><\/p>\n

    7. Other factors<\/b><\/p>\n

    Stress, depression, and anxiety may develop due to health problems like cancer, diabetes, and chronic pain. Poor nutrition and exposure to toxins like mercury (Minamata disease) and lead (poor intellectual functioning) in early age may lead to mental illnesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. Psychological Factors<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n