Taking Care of Both Our Physical and Emotional Health

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. In honor of that, we asked three of our clinicians to share their thoughts on the connectedness of physical and emotional health and their importance in our journeys to living happier, more fulfilled lives.

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Shivanti Singh, PsyD:

When we take care of our body, it helps us regulate our emotions, too. Our ability to navigate difficult feelings is impacted by the way we are caring for ourselves physically. Ever noticed yourself more irritable when you are sleep deprived or hungry? These are examples of this concept in action! Treating physical illness if feeling sick, eating balanced meals, avoiding substances that alter mood, improving the quality and quantity of sleep, and staying physically active are all important ways you can help yourself feel more emotionally balanced.

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Aimee Keith, PsyD:

Physical and emotional health are two aspects of our overall health. When you think of physical health, you might think of dragging yourself to the gym and running on a treadmill or lifting a few weights, but many things are a part of physical health aside from exercise. It also includes resting your body when you are sick or overworked, getting enough sleep, adequate nutrition and seeing your doctor when needed. It means listening to what your body needs and responding with kindness and care.

Exercise is great for your body. Physical activity promotes neurogenesis and boosts body derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which aids in neurogenesis, or the creation of new brain cells and synaptic connections. This is how our brain actually learns, changes, and adapts. Similarly, sleep is vital for good brain health as when we are asleep, cerebrospinal fluid cleans out plaques and other toxins that build up while we are awake.

Attending to our physical health can improve our emotional health. Getting enough nutrition, sleep, activity and rest allows us to have a higher threshold for stress. We’ve all been more grumpy when hungry, tired, or in pain. This is because our window of emotional tolerance shrinks when we don’t feel physically well.

Emotional health can refer to many things, such as how we understand and manage our emotions, and being able to hear what our emotions are trying to tell us. Anxiety can motivate us, but can also tell us what we are avoiding and might keep us stuck. Anger can tell us when our boundaries were violated. Sadness can tell us we need to grieve a loss or cope with a disappointment.

Emotional health is the ability to allow ourselves to feel these emotions, tolerate them, understand them, explore them, and finally, use coping skills to manage rather than control or avoid them.

The P.E.R.Fi.C model offered at Happier Living ensures that all areas of health, including physical and emotional health, are explored and attended to. It also allows us to see how we change over time and where we may need to shift our attention.

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Donald P. Nash, PsyD:

As we recognize National Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to take a moment to honor you—your courage, your growth, and the commitment you’ve made to care for your mental health.

At Happier Living, we believe that mental health is not only about addressing challenges when they arise, but also about creating space in our daily lives for well-being, healing, and connection. This month, we’re focusing on the powerful role of self-care—both physical and emotional—in supporting your journey.

Self-care isn’t selfish, and it’s not a quick fix. It’s the small, consistent choices you make to take care of your body, mind, and spirit. That might look like getting more sleep, taking a walk in nature, setting boundaries in relationships, allowing yourself to rest, or simply naming what you’re feeling. These acts are brave. They are healing.

We also want to remind you: reaching out for support is a form of self-care, too. Whether you’re in the middle of a difficult season or simply exploring more of who you are, therapy is a space where your voice matters, and your well-being comes first.

This month—and always—we’re here to support you as you invest in yourself. You are not alone, and your mental health deserves attention, care, and respect. Thank you for allowing us to walk alongside you on this path.

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If you need help taking care of your physical and emotional health or would just like to talk to someone, select "Get Started" at the top of our website to make an appointment with one of our clinicians.

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