The Blurred Lines Between Mental And Physical Illness
Have you ever wondered how much our mental and physical health affect each other? This week, after a bout of illness, I was left wondering which was the instigator…
“Without Mental Health There Can Be No True Physical Health”
Dr Brock Chisholm
So, I’ve been ill yet again, knocked off my feet and confined to my bed for rest…
WHY do I keep getting ill?
Is it the chemo drugs that lower my immunity, making me overly susceptible to illnesses and an easy target for viruses looking to accost their next victim?…
Is it that I’ve not been taking the best care of myself recently… not eating well; not eating the nourishing, wholesome foods that I know will keep my body fuelled in the right ways and giving it the best chances of staving-off these infamous illnesses that do-the-rounds at this time of year (and especially so THIS year it seems!)…
OR is it even ‘physical’ illness? Because I have found myself considering that perhaps I’m not ‘physically’ depleted, but mentally…
Physical←→Mental
I’m fascinated by the concept that physical and mental health are intrinsically interlinked, whereby one will impact the other.
As research is rapidly increasing on this connection between the mind and body, they are less likely to be seen as ‘detached’ in terms of health, which is opening doors to much better understanding, treatment and recovery!1
Just look at the physical sensations that we experience during a panic or anxiety attack: tightness or pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, tingling, sweating or shaking, a racing heart, nausea…
The panic or anxiety is psychological, but the symptomatic sensations are physical.
And considering the more extreme end of the spectrum, there is evidence that physical illness can be brought about by significant trauma2, and the suppression (intentional) or repression (unconscious) of our emotions can manifest into chronic illness, including fibromyalgia, migraines, cancer and ME3.
The chicken or the egg
In my case, I find it difficult to determine which comes first – when I’m ill, I always notice my mood drop; I start to feel low, sometimes depressed, heavy and deflated.
And similarly, when my mood dips and a depressive episode absconds me (which I’m pleased to report happens a lot less these days), then my physical health declines too – I start to feel ‘ill’, with symptoms like excessive tiredness, nausea and headaches…
I guess it comes back to self-awareness… learning to take notice… giving ourselves some time each day to ‘tune in’ and observe what’s going on for us…
For me, that would be spotting the signs of ‘illness’, whether it’s physical or mental, and interrupting it before it floors me!
How do you tune in?
We are all different… we will all find different techniques… different things that work for us…and different things that we enjoy…
- Perhaps you run and give yourself some head space then…
- Or when you’re walking the dog…
- Perhaps you listen to music…
- Or engage in a mindful activity like drawing or crochet…
- Maybe you play an instrument…
- Or even when you’re driving, using the commute to or from work…
For me, I journal and meditate.
Journaling allows my subconscious to be transcribed into words on a page. It helps me to spot where I’m at, what I’m thinking and feeling, long before it would otherwise enter my awareness.
And meditation gives me some much-needed peace and headspace from my always-busy mind!
And yet, these helpful practices have gone out the window recently… unintentionally slipped away from my grasp…
Perhaps this is why I’ve noticed a decline in my health (both physically and mentally) – I have neglected the things I need for me, the things that keep me aware and ahead of any emerging deterioration.
And I know these habits are good for me, yet why do I find myself suddenly lost in a vast ocean far beyond the reach of these ‘islands’ that keep me anchored? Because I’m human, we’re all human, and sometimes life happens at breakneck speed, causing us to react with such energy and urgency that we unintentionally abandon these ‘optional’ tasks.
But maybe it shouldn’t be ‘optional’!
Because if it’s a case of doing just one thing every day… spending just five minutes on something that will keep me tethered to the shore, whilst I ride out the choppy waters, then I would rather that than find myself once more far from land with the gruelling task of rowing back (most likely with just one ore and a hole in my boat!)…
So, what do you say we try and make our mental and physical health our priority, not a nice-to-have perk if we get time…
Take care & much love,
Julie x
Doherty, A. M., and Gaughran, F. (2014) ‘The interface of physical and mental health’, Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 49(5), 673–682. Doi: 10.1007/s00127-014-0847-7.
Van Der Kolk, B. (2015) The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. London: Penguin Books.
Maté, G. and Maté, D. (2022)The myth of normal: Trauma, Illness & Healing in a toxic culture. London: Vermilion.
I could have written something very similar! I am resting and self caring because a decade of trauma (My GP) calls it has left me emotionally exhausted. But I am fighting it unwisely and now must admit I am unwell. But I have tools which help and a very supportive & patient husband…and will do what I can to help myself (Without excessive whinging) and allow TIME to pass. Sending my best wishes to you!