And why it is important to spot the signs that yours is not where it should be

By Dr Vasilios Silivistris

Emotional health refers to your overall psychological wellbeing. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships, and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties.

Emotionally healthy individuals have

A sense of contentment.

A passion for living and the ability to laugh and have fun.

Resilience.

The ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity.

The flexibility to learn new things and adapt to change.

A balance between work, play, rest, activity, et cetera.

The ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships.

Self-confidence and high self-esteem.

These positive characteristics of emotional health allow you to participate in life to the fullest extent possible through productive, meaningful activities and strong relationships.

Being emotionally healthy does not mean never going through bad times or experiencing emotional problems. We all go through disappointments, loss, and change. Moreover, while these are normal parts of life, they can still cause sadness, anxiety and stress.

The mind and the body are linked

When you improve your physical health, you will automatically experience greater emotional wellbeing. For example, exercise not only strengthens the heart and lungs but also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals that energise us and lift our mood.

The activities you engage in and the daily choices you make affect the way you feel physically and emotionally. This is why it is important to get enough rest, eat a nutritious diet, exercise, get a dose of sunlight every day, and limit alcohol and cigarettes.

To maintain and strengthen your emotional health, it is important to pay attention to your own needs and feelings.

Try to balance your daily responsibilities and the things you enjoy.

Taking care includes pursuing activities that naturally release endorphins and contribute to feeling good.

In addition to physical exercise, endorphins are also naturally released when we:

Do things that positively influence others to build self-esteem.

Learn and discover new things.

Enjoy the beauty of nature art, and music.

Limit unhealthy mental habits like worrying.

Engage in meaningful and creative work.

Get a pet.

Make leisure time a priority.

Make time for contemplation and appreciation.

Your emotional health has been and will continue to be shaped by your experiences. Early childhood experiences are especially significant.

Risk factors that can compromise emotional health include:

Poor attachment early in life.

Feeling lonely, isolated, unsafe, confused, or abused as a child.

Traumas and serious losses, especially early in life.

Negative experiences lead to a belief that you are helpless and that you have little control over the situations in your life.

Illness that isolates you from others.

Alcohol and drug abuse can make emotional problems worse.

If you have made consistent efforts to improve your emotional health and you still do not feel good then it is time to seek professional help.

Areas that may require immediate attention are

Inability to sleep.

Feeling down, hopeless, or helpless most of the time.

Concentration problems that are interfering with your work or home life.

Using nicotine, food, drugs, or alcohol to cope with difficult emotions.

Negative, self-destructive thoughts or fears.

Thoughts of death and or suicide.

If you identify with these symptoms, seek professional help from a qualified counsellor or psychotherapist.

Dr Vasilios Silivistris (Vasos) is a psychotherapist, counselling practitionerpsychotherapycounselling.uk