Why Your Soul Is Probably More Essential Than You Think

The “Mind Over Body” matter.

TW. Melani
Jul 25, 2017 · 5 min read

When I was a kid, I was told many stories about many great people in this world. They are the ones who changed the world, by surpassing through their own limitation and growing up I have became more aware of my own perspective in life. So, for me, people who suffered from mental illness is not much of a difference than those people.

The fat that we are our own worst enemy, there’s nothing to argue about that. Whether you are already successful or you are still working to get your life together, working for hours investing in yourself. If think you can or if you think you can’t, it’s true.

I believe, for people who suffer from mental illness, they have won over their worst enemies. They have to do it everyday and they have done it so far throughout their life. Treatments after treatments, medications after medications, sessions after sessions. Imagine being against yourself and have to put a high amount of effort to overcome your own thoughts. For those who don’t have the guts to do that, they will go crazy and let their illness rule themselves. For example, take a moment and visualize a person who is full of emotion and very sensitive but has to control their emotion otherwise they could kill themselves. I choose this one because I believe they are the strongest ones among others. These people succeed because they tried so hard fighting against themselves in order to put themselves in the correct state of mind. It doesn’t stop there, their mental illness would never stop them to achieve their goals in life. These people take strength from their suffering.

As I began to understand this I realized, there are lots of people who don’t know about their mental state. In other words, there are people who don’t know what they should be doing or maybe they already are but still take no action to take care of themselves. It is however very sad to know only 1/3 people who suffer from mental illness got their treatment. There are a lot of factors that cause the other part of the equation haven’t got their treatment yet.

As WHO declared that there are three health aspects that we need to maintain in order to stay healthy. One of them is mental health, among the other two I can see that mental health is just as important. I would consider by applying simple actions, understanding clearly and raising awareness of mental health, it would be so much easier for us to maintain and at least acknowledge the fact that mental health is essential and it matters, a lot. No worries. Having issues on your mental condition is also considered as normal and psychologists would be very pleased to help you sort out the problems.

So, maybe it is important to some people maybe it is not. But i happen to know the reason of why should we care about mental health condition.

  1. For Better Physical Health

There is a strong connection between the mind and body. A 2012 study in Health Services Research confirmed this connection, noting that people with physical health problems are three times more likely to seek mental health care than those without physical conditions. These two correlate, one effects the other both ways. I guess you all know depression right? a 2003 study found that the treatment of depression in arthritis patients led to reduced pain and better overall health.

2. Stability and Flexibility

The thing about good mental health is it keeps you productive. Taking care of your mental health will give you benefits. Not only for your work life but also your personal life. We all have those days when we feel blue, refuse to hang out, cancel on plans even though we have been waiting for the day. If it occurs repeatedly then it could effect your life. Individuals with untreated mental health disorders may face significant economic struggles. It’s okay to cancel on meetings because you are sick, but cancelling meeting repeatedly is dangerous. Feeling blue because of you had a bad day is fine, but feeling blue on a daily basis is bad. For those who are able to maintain employment, research shows a link between mental health disorders and reduced productivity.

3. Less Crime

Environment plays a huge part in our actions. Several area or cities have more criminal reports than the other. Some studies suggest that people with untreated mental illness, especially in conjunction with other risk factors, may be at increased risk of committing violent crimes or, even more likely, becoming victims themselves. Did you know that most violence acts are committed against the criminal’s social circle?? It’s no surprise. Meanwhile we take little to no action towards this inhumane behavior. In addition, assaults, rapes and murders have been reported, particularly against women with schizophrenia.

4. Much Happier Life

A 2012 study in the British Medical Journal stated that people with even mild mental health problems may have a lower life expectancy. Moreover, those with the highest levels of depression or anxiety had a risk of death that increased as high as 94 percent, most often related to heart disease. I strongly believe that in order to feel fulfilled and happy you’d have to work for them. People who are taking care of their mental health would know that it is worth the time and the energy. Because the effect you can get is lifelong and you wouldn’t feel burden because you know that you are doing it for you. As you doing it for you which means you are making decision out of love, it effects your surrounding including your family and close friends.

5. Increases Helping Behavior

We are social animals and we interact with each other day to day. Simon Sinek has a great perspective about human interaction, he studied Anthropology and he stated that we have the eager to help others in ourselves. It makes us happy. Coinciding with the last point, by helping ourselves we can also help other simultaneously. It’s not impossible.

There is nothing cute or sassy about mental illness, no fancy machines or quick fixes and we do not have easily-identified ways to support depression, bipolar, or schizophrenia like pink ribbon for HIV. So why should you prioritize your mental health? Because caring for your mind as well as your body means you’ll not only live longer but better. And who wouldn’t want that? Just as we have effective treatments for physical illnesses, there are therapies, medications and lifestyle interventions that can ease mental suffering, especially if you get help at the earliest signs of a problem.

Source :

  1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sack-md/healthy-living-news_b_4494887.html
  2. http://fgcnow.org/why-is-treating-mental-health-issues-just-as-important-as-your-physical-health/
TW. Melani

Written by

I write entirely to let words find their place, to find out what I’m thinking and conceive what I’m looking at — a full-time learner and part-time wanderlust

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade