For our physical health to work at optimum level, our emotional health needs to do the same. It is impossible to have one without the other.

But for us to improve our emotional health, we first need to recognise our emotions, and what they mean: we need to understand them. Once we sort out the causes of our emotions, like stress and anxiety, we will manage our emotions and health better.

The following suggestions may be helpful:

  • Being able to express your feelings is an important key to maintaining optimum health. Talking to someone you trust is part of the process. If you don’t have anyone you can talk to, a doctor could refer you on to someone;
  • Relax and focus on yourself. A good method of relaxation is meditation, twenty minutes meditation or relaxation so you can focus on yourself;
  • Live a balanced life helps improve emotional health;
  • Keep a journal of what’s making you stressed or anxious is another good way to manage emotions;
  • Make time for the things you enjoy;
  • Take good care of yourself by eating healthy meals, take regular exercise and avoid drinking too much alcohol.

Carrying emotional baggage will hurt us in the long-term. Speaking your truth won’t always make you popular, but it can bring about necessary change.

The truth will always open us up to other people’s interpretation and that's fine, it's your truth. It is always important to say what you feel and what’s on your mind.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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6 comments on “Improving Emotional Health”

  2. Good tips Ilana!

    I must add that nurses are someone you can talk to also as being a nurse I have had several occasions to talk with patients about problems they are having, that's one benefit of the nursing profession to help others. Some doctors just want to deal with what you're there for and nothing else. I've had the unfortunate time to be in this situation.

    When we found out mom's cancer was back in her bones the doctor said he didn't have time to discuss our concerns with us! Needless to say we didn't see him anymore, we went to another doctor that would address our concerns. He really cared. I agree with everything you've addressed here. Again very good!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Lisa. You are right, although nurses are probably not seen as counselors, but in their capacity dealing with poorly people, they know a lot more about their patients with all their complicated medical problems and will be able to empathise and help them out greatly there. You probably know more than some of the doctors... I'm sure of that.

      As you rightly point out Lisa there are good and bad doctors, it's a case of sifting out the bad ones so we only get to see the good ones! Thanks for your wonderful comment.

      Reply

  3. I do find it interesting how some people talk only about emotional health and some only discuss physical health, when really the two should be taken as one subject. Experience tends to hand this realization to us the hard way at times.

    As Randy said, these ideas are well-expressed as always. These really are good ideas.

    I must be honest and say that reading this blog and chatting with you over Daily Strength has been very valuable to me for getting an understanding of what I can do start living a more positive life, (I guess it has helped that we both have CP, but still I feel very thankful).

    Reply

    1. David, I'm not sure people fully understand the connections between their physical and emotional health, which is why they may only talk about their emotional health.. although some don't manage to do that either.

      Thank you for your kind comments of me. It's great that we are friends and here for one another.

      Reply

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