Search results
Jun 3, 2013 · Feeling safe is a fundamental human need, essential for both mental and physical well-being. It is the sense of security and freedom from fear or anxiety, allowing individuals to thrive and function optimally in their environment. The significance of feeling safe cannot be overstated, as it directly impacts stress responses, influencing overall ...
- Bob Livingstone
- Overview
- How does it look in action?
- Why is it so important?
- How can I improve my emotional health?
- The bottom line
For starters, it’s not the same thing as mental health. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, emotional health “focuses on being in tune with our emotions, vulnerability, and authenticity,” says licensed psychologist Juli Fraga, PsyD.
Having good emotional health is a fundamental aspect of fostering resilience, self-awareness, and overall contentment.
1. Noticing upsetting emotions when they arise
This enables you to name them and process them in healthy ways. For example, you might choose to compassionately confront someone who hurt or angered you rather than lash out at them. Or maybe you opt to set some healthy boundaries at work or with loved ones.
2. Catching your own self-judgments
According to Fraga, this means turning that critical inner voice into an opportunity for self-love and compassion. For example, when you find yourself engaging in negative self-talk, you might ask: •“If my child, partner, or best friend were talking to me this way, how would I respond?” •“What makes it challenging for me to treat myself the same way I treat others?”
3. Curiosity
Emotional health flourishes when you’re curious about your thoughts, behaviors, and feelings and why they might arise at certain times, says Fraga. It’s important to be able to ask yourself, “Why do I react this way?” or “What is it about my past that might lead me to have a strong reaction to x, y, and z?”
Working on our emotional health is just as important as taking care of our physical well-being.
And that work pays off with:
•Resilience to stress. Research shows that emotional distress makes you more vulnerable to physical illness by impacting your immune system.
•Deeper relationships. When you’re equipped with the skills to manage your emotions, it’s easier for you to connect with others and show more empathy and compassion. You’re also better able to hold arguments and talk through your feelings.
•Higher self-esteem. Your thoughts, feelings, and experiences influence the way you feel about yourself. Good emotional health helps you see the best in yourself despite challenges.
•More energy. Having a positive outlook makes you feel more energized and helps you focus and think more clearly, whereas poor emotional health depletes your mental resources and leads to exhaustion.
Emotional health is more of a process than a goal. And chances are you’re already doing some things that help strengthen your emotional health.
As you go through these tips, remember that emotional health isn’t about always being in a good mood. It’s about equipping yourself to deal with the good, the bad, and everything in between.
Good emotional health is crucial to your overall well-being. If you feel like your thoughts and emotions are getting the best of you, taking care of your core needs — like sleep and connection with loves ones — can help.
If that doesn’t seem to do the trick, consider working with a therapist or another mental health professional. They can help you clearly identify the aspects of your emotional health you want to improve and help you come up with a plan.
Jan 16, 2023 · Emotional safety is the visceral feeling of being accepted and embraced for who you truly are and what you feel and need. Feeling chronically emotionally unsafe causes intense psychological ...
Mar 18, 2020 · As a construct, good mental health is the foundation for effective functioning and well-being for both individuals and the communities where they live. Promoting Mental Health. It takes action to ...
Apr 19, 2023 · A person who has good physical health is likely to have bodily functions and processes working at their peak. This is not only due not only to an absence of disease. Regular exercise, balanced ...
Mar 18, 2021 · It means being judicious with our attention and prioritizing those things that we value most deeply. Emotional safety includes self-soothing that may involve spending time alone, just you, without ...
People also ask
What is good health & why is it important?
Why is feeling safe important?
Do personality traits affect well-being?
What makes a person a good person?
Why is physical health important?
Nov 10, 2021 · They looked for a combination of facets of the Big Five personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism) that would characterize psychological health ...
