The body is fueled by chemicals and hormones, and these do not always balance correctly. Sometimes the body might not develop the way that they should, and issues arise because of it. This is the underlying reason why mental health is not something you can just get over. It isn’t just in your head. Your body and mind have a symbiotic relationship that impacts each other. Trauma can result in physical symptoms. A chemical imbalance can result in mental symptoms. They are always connected.
Understanding how the body and the mind work together can help parents and teens alike better understand what they feel and why. Improving physical health can help mental health, and vice versa, but only when both are equally supported can you actually help your teen through this most difficult time.
The Ways Physical Health and Mental Health are Connected
There are so many ways that physical and mental health are connected:
- Chemical Imbalance
- Hormonal Imbalance
- Mental Illness
- Feedback Loop from Addiction
- Trauma (Physical and Mental)
It is important to remember the power that the brain has over the body. The brain can convince a woman’s body she is pregnant even when she isn’t. It can help or hurt you, depending on how healthy it is. Similarly, it is impacted by your body. Hormonal imbalance can result in an unbalanced brain, while physical trauma can result in mental trauma. They are deeply interconnected, and you should always assume that there are both mental and physical scars when you or a loved one is suffering.
What to Do When At-Home Solutions Don’t Work
You should never feel that therapy is a last resort. It should be one of the first steps that you take. That being said, many people will try to change things at home before they make that step. Therapy can be expensive, even if it is covered under your health insurance.
When at home fixes don’t work, then it is time to seek out professional help. For parents, this should be when your traditional steps at parenting haven’t worked. You do not have to have all the answers, but you do need to connect your child with a solution. With teen mental health, it is wise to seek out help for them from a reputable treatment facility that combines a medical and holistic approach. This way, they can build healthy coping mechanisms and spot their triggers before deep scars occur.
Your Body is an Interconnected System
You should never assume that your mind and body are separate. They are one and the same. An ill body can result in an ill mind, and an ill mind does result in physical symptoms. They provide a feedback loop that, when sick, spirals and feels impossible to get out of on your own. It is important to remember in this instance, however, that you are not alone. There are so many centers, therapists, support groups, and loved ones here to help you out of your negative spiral so that you can stand strong on your own once again.