People frequently use the terms mind and body interchangeably. When it comes to mental and physical health, however, the two should not be considered separate. Poor physical health can raise your chances of having mental health issues. Similarly, poor mental health can hurt physical health, increasing the risk of certain diseases.
Causes Of Bad Mental Health And Physical Health
It’s difficult to pinpoint what causes depression and anxiety because everyone’s situation is unique.
Some of the most common causes of bad mental and physical health in men include:
Men who strictly adhere to traditional masculine norms are more prone to suffer from mental illness.
Trauma:
This might involve significant emotional events such as sexual abuse, combat, or being exposed to high-stress conditions daily.
Stress: Workplace stress and a lack of social support link to an increased risk of mental health problems in men.
Furthermore, stress can cause intestinal muscular spasms and problems with erections.
Traditional gender roles:
This can include feeling obligated to be a provider or societal conventions that prevent males from expressing their emotions. Suffering from Erectile Dysfunction can also be a matter of ridicule for some men, thus leading to mental health issues.
Childhood maltreatment or family problems:
Any adversity experienced as a child might lead to an increased chance of mental health problems in adulthood.
Work Loss:
Unemployment and retirement have both active links to an increased incidence of depression in men. One out of every seven males who lose their employment develops depression.
Separation and divorce:
Men often consider themselves as the breadwinners and the ones who keep the family together. Men who are divorced are more likely to suffer from depression.
Financial concerns:
For many people, financial concerns are a significant source of stress, and they may play a role in developing some mental health illnesses.
Substance abuse:
Men are more prone than women to use drugs or alcohol to cope with mental health concerns, albeit this type of “self-medication” can exacerbate the problem in the long run.
Physical Problems
Men’s physical performance and ability to achieve erections may be affected by mental health issues that affect our daily lives and everyday activities. According to research, about a quarter of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) also have depression, anxiety, or both.
Weak Immune:
When the immune system becomes weak by stress, the body is more susceptible to infection. Infections of the testes, prostate gland, and urethra in male anatomy can interfere with normal male reproductive function.
The body releases Cortisol when the brain is under unhealthy stress, such as from traumatic events, marital troubles, or professional stress. Cortisol causes the blood arteries in your penis to contract. Certain males may have trouble getting an erection if blood doesn’t flow properly to their penis.
Chronic stress:
High cortisol levels reduce the quantity of testosterone your body produces over time. Low testosterone, often known as “low T,” is frequent in men who have erectile dysfunction and mental health disorders such as melancholy or anxiety.
Mental Health:
Our body is well prepared to handle stress, but it can have catastrophic consequences when stress becomes long-term or chronic. When muscles are rigid and stiff for lengthy periods, it can cause other bodily reactions and even stress-related diseases. Tension-type headaches and migraine headaches, for example, are linked to chronic muscle tension in the shoulders, neck, and head.
As the passageway between the nose and the lungs constricts, stress and intense emotions can cause respiratory symptoms as shortness of breath and fast breathing. Chronic stress, or continuous stress over a long period, can lead to heart and blood vessel problems in the long run.
Heart rate and Hormones:
A regular and persistent increase in heart rate and higher levels of stress hormones and blood pressure can harm the body in the long run. Long-term stress can put you at risk for hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.
Pain, bloating, nausea, and other stomach symptoms may elevate due to stress. If the stress is extreme enough, vomiting may ensue. Furthermore, stress can lead to an unnecessarily high or low appetite.
Unhealthy diets can harm one’s mood. Pain, bloating, and discomfort in the intestines can all increase exponentially by stress. It can slow down or speed up the passage of food through the body, resulting in diarrhea or constipation.
Maintaining Healthy Physical And Mental Health
Men over the age of 70 can offer themselves the best chance of staying well and living longer by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, being active, and remaining connected. Older men are more likely to develop health problems such as coronary heart disease and dementia and suffer unfavorable health consequences resulting from a fall.
As men’s lives have grown longer, so has the number of men diagnosed with dementia. Although there is no permanent cure for dementia at the moment, keeping your mind active can help reduce your risk.
How To Handle Bad mental And Physical Health?
Due to cultural conditioning that discourages the expression of low mood, diagnosing and treating psychological illnesses in men can be challenging.
The greater use of gender-sensitive diagnostic methodologies and treatment may better equip mental health practitioners to give males seeking help with proper and accurate diagnoses.
Professional Study
A high-qualified mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, or clinical social worker, conduct a complete exam and screening to diagnose mental illness.
Depending on the exact situation, a doctor can employ various therapies to address mental health conditions. The following are a few of these treatments:
Psychotherapy
Individual psychotherapy with a private therapist or group therapy are examples of this. Psychotherapy can assist you in identifying and resolving specific issues that may have contributed to your mental health problems and teaching you better-coping strategies.
Behavioral Interventions
You could go through cognitive behavioral therapy to address negative, unhealthy thought patterns and develop positive behavioral changes or dialectical behavior therapy to help persons with a borderline personality disorder or suicidal conduct.
Prescription Drugs
Various drugs are available for impaired mental and physical health in males. Certain antidepressants, for example, are effective in treating both depression and anxiety. For the best benefits, a person should take medications in conjunction with psychotherapy.
Conclusion
Improving your physical well-being can also benefit your mental well-being. Aerobic exercise can help lessen sadness and anxiety, improve sleep, mood, and self-esteem, and minimize social isolation (when done in a group environment), and tension and anxiety.
Like web-based treatments and electronic health (e-health) tools, modern strategies are also being developed and used to reach out to men who may not seek care otherwise. For depressed males who are hesitant to seek traditional mental health therapy, these methods may feel safer and more accessible.
