Psychological health is the overall well-being of an individual, which is influenced by their mental and emotional state. It determines how an individual handles stress, makes decisions, and responds to other people in their lives.
Keeping psychological health at peak levels can help prevent or reduce symptoms of many conditions. This includes conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, addiction and personality disorders.
Good mental health has a wide range of benefits, such as preventing disease, reducing stress and improving productivity in the workplace. It also can enhance relationships and increase the quality of life for those who suffer from mental health concerns.
Positive emotions such as joy, contentment and happiness can improve mental health in the long term. They can make you more optimistic and encourage you to try new things.
They can also reduce feelings of sadness and depression and enhance your enjoyment of life. They can make you feel empathetic, able to give compassion and empathy to others, have patience with people, respect differences, and accept that everyone deserves a chance at a happy life.
Negative emotions, on the other hand, can interfere with your ability to enjoy life and make you more prone to unhealthy behaviors. They can also lead to a variety of other problems, such as anxiety and substance abuse.
If you are feeling stressed or anxious, talk to a mental health professional right away. They can assess your symptoms and give you a diagnosis so that you can get the treatment you need.
In addition to counseling, psychiatrists prescribe medication to help with some mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and bipolar disorder. They can also provide support during other life changes, such as moving to a new place, getting married, or dealing with grief and bereavement.
Counseling is a proven way to improve and maintain your mental health. Licensed therapists can teach you healthy ways to interact with others and provide coping mechanisms that you can use when things get tough.
Therapy is a valuable tool that can help you overcome negative patterns of behavior, such as impulsivity, self-criticism and excessive excuse making. It can also help you identify underlying causes of your problem and teach you healthier behaviors.
Your mental health can fluctuate over time, depending on a number of factors. For instance, if you work long hours or take care of a family member who is ill, your mental health can be affected.
However, you can also prevent and treat mental health conditions through regular screenings and monitoring of your psychological health. You can do this by filling out a simple psychological health questionnaire that measures several different aspects of your well-being.
You can also find out more about your risk for developing a psychological health condition by talking to a psychiatric specialist, who can refer you to the appropriate services and resources that can help you overcome your mental health challenges.
A number of factors can affect a person’s mental health, including their genetic makeup and life experiences such as trauma and loss. Having a family history of mental health issues can increase your risk of developing these conditions.