Yoga and Mental Health
Written by: ljpasion
Mental Health is a concept that refers to the psychological and emotional well-being of a person. Being mentally healthy generally means that you are able to use your emotional capabilities to function well in society and go through everyday life with little or no difficulty. Some factors that can affect your mental health are your family life, social life, and life at work. Having negative experiences in any of the said areas can deteriorate the condition of your mental health.
Mental illnesses, on the other hand, refer to health-related conditions where a person’s mood or thinking affects his ability to work well or relate to other people. These can be classified into six categories:
- Mood Disorders – These are characterized by feeling of hopelessness, changes in eating pattern, troubled sleep, chronic fatigue, and even thoughts of suicide and death. There are two major types of Mood Disorders:
- Depression – a state of extreme sadness or melancholy that affects a person’s social functions
- Bipolar Disorder – a mood disorder where a person alternates between states of depression and mania (very elevated mood)
These symptoms or states are usually temporary, lasting for about a maximum of two weeks. If you experience them for more than two weeks, see a doctor immediately.
- Anxiety Disorders – These include abnormal anxiety, phobias, and panic disorders that come unpredictably and disrupt our normal daily routines. Anxiety disorders are developed over a period of time.
- Schizophrenia – This is characterized by distortions in a person’s perception of reality. A person with Schizophrenia manifests disordered thinking and usually experiences hallucinations. Of all other Mental Illnesses, this is considered as the most serious.
- Eating Disorders – These are conditions that involve an obsession with food which ultimately leads to negative effects towards a person’s social life and daily activities. Eating disorders are caused by a lot of different factors ranging from genetics to media exposure.
- Personality Disorders – These are characterized by abnormal and destructive thoughts, behavior, and emotional responses. People who suffer from personality disorders have a tendency to struggle in dealing with other people, mainly because of the rigidity or narrow-mindedness it brings about.
- Organic Brain Disorders – These are often the result of physical brain injury or brain damage due to accidents. People with organic brain disorder often suffer from confusion and memory loss.
The Role of Yoga
Yoga is best known for its poses or Asanas. These reach deep into the yogi’s body, massaging important internal organs. Asanas help cleanse and maintain the nervous and circulatory systems, which automatically result in a healthier body and mind. Breathing Exercises or Pranayama can also help in keeping a person healthy by supplying a fixed amount of oxygen to the muscles and internal organs.
However, Yoga should not be treated as the sole remedy for mental illnesses. You should first seek assistance from a professional if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above. Yoga can only help facilitate the recovery from some dangerous side effects of these mental illnesses. It should always be accompanied by proper medication and psychological counseling.
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