Being happy, sad, anxious, irritated, or frustrated are all the types of moods/emotional states that you might experience during your life. In simpler words, we refer to these states as our mood. Your mood can determine your expected reaction to different people and situations in life.
Besides a generic (and mostly expected) reaction, moods tend to have a more significant influence on your overall physical and mental well-being. Have you ever felt like dancing out of happiness or a feeling that makes you sick to the core? All of these are the side effects of your mood that define your personality. In Gen Z terms, your mood can define your aura around people.
Let’s explore this concept further to understand moods and their impact on our health.
Mental Health and Moods
When it comes to moods, your mental health is probably the first thing that’s affected in the course. For instance, being in a state of testiness and irritability can be a cause of more concerning conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Detecting such concerns before they are triggered further can help you fix your emotional instability through methods like the ketamine treatment, in areas where it is legal, so you can regain balance and feel better. This treatment is a game-changer when it comes to mental well-being.
Apart from this, your consistently good mood also affects your ability to perceive things. You may look at the world from a different perspective than what’s actually true. This perspective can impact your decisions and thinking capacity.
People with negative emotions will most likely have a negative mindset towards their relations, work, and other day-to-day activities, unlike their counterparts with a positive emotional response.
Your mental health describes how you behave with people around you. So, it is highly likely that someone who’s always in a bad mood and reflects negativity in everyday communication might not be everyone’s favorite.
So, while it’s completely normal to feel blue occasionally, try not to make it your entire personality because you will find it very hard to break the shackles and come out of this.
Physical Health and Moods
Moods can also have tangible effects on physical health. Have you ever felt that sharp pain in your body every time you feel a certain mood? Or maybe sometimes anger starts to make you shiver? All we can say is that your mind and body are connected deeper than you think.
Sleep is probably the most affected physical symptom of mood. Some might be unable to sleep because of sadness or stress, while others might lose sleep due to excitement and anxiety about an upcoming event. Lack of sleep disturbs your overall routine and has the potential to trap you in a vicious cycle of insomnia if not dealt with in a timely manner.
Besides this, a negative mood can also significantly stress your immune system. One day, you are sad, and the next day, you feel sick — that’s because these emotions can suppress the immune system functionality and take over your body.
People have also felt things like chronic pain, high blood pressure, unexplainable food cravings, digestive concerns, obesity, and even diabetes due to the negative emotions in their lives.
Tips for Mood Management
It is normal for humans to feel different moods and emotions throughout the day, but that doesn’t mean you can let your emotions take over and become your entire personality. Controlling your moods and letting out a sensible and controlled reaction can improve your physical and mental well-being.
One of the best mood regulators is physical activity. Performing any workout once daily can lift your mood, relax your muscles, and make you feel much better. You don’t even have to purchase an expensive gym membership to exercise.
All you need is some space and the willingness to perform cardio, and you are good to go. Make walking a daily part of your life, and try to cover 10K steps a day for reduced symptoms of frustration, irritability, and anxiety. It’ll also strengthen your core and legs.
People who practice mindfulness have better control over their moods and are known to be more calm and more collected, even in unfavorable scenarios.
Your body maintains a good mood according to what you consume, so try to eat healthy and nutritional food that is filled with healthy fats, protein, and anti-aging antioxidants. You can also seek the help of a nutritionist to help you formulate a diet plan that takes care of your emotional well-being.
Social Connections and Moods
The people you associate with also play a pivotal role in defining your mood. It would help if you connected with those who radiate positive energy, which can help you better deal with negativity.
NIH suggests that a lack of social connections leads to medical illnesses and mortality, which signifies the importance of having positive connections in one’s life. Engage with your friends and family members to eliminate the feelings of isolation and loneliness.
People with stronger social bonds tend to feel more energetic and happy, which can reduce their stressors.
Your mood impacts your physical and mental well-being, leading to different disorders like depression, anxiety, and sleeplessness. Consider maintaining a healthy lifestyle to balance your mood and avoid the potentially harmful side effects of a negative state of mind.
This article was written for WHN by Julia Rae who is a dedicated writer and expert in the health and Lifestyle industry, with over 10+ years of experience in health research and policy. They are committed to exploring innovative solutions that promote well-being and improve healthcare outcomes. When not writing, Julia Rae enjoys hiking and volunteering in community health and Lifestyle programs.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.
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References/Sources/Materials provided by:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8649080
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921311
https://worldhealth.net/news/mindfulness-help-quiet-your-fears/
