Tiffany M Saunders

Licensed Professional Counselor | Marriage Coach

Tiffany is a native of Houston with 20 years of experience as an educator, educational diagnostician & school counselor. She holds two masters degrees, each from Prairie View A&M and Lamar University, and is a self-published author of three children's books, When I Grow Up, Sometimes I Wonder, and Anxious Annie, currently available on online.

In the past, Tiffany has spent her time volunteering as a facilitator and counselor for local youth groups in foster homes and churches. When away from work, she enjoy singing, being involved in her church, and spending time with her husband and two sons.

Mental and Physical Health: Why They Matter?

Mental Health Defined

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Physical health can be explained as the proper functioning of the body and its organs. Its components include physical activity, nutrition and diet, rest, sleep, and medical self-care. Mental health is about how we think, process emotions, create meaningful relationships, socialize with others, earn a living, live purposefully, and enjoy life.

Longevity of Life

When you have both mental and physical health issues, the quality of your life significantly drops and affects your relationships and social interactions. Mental health struggles are known to trigger isolation and dissociation from socializing. Without supportive relationships and forms of socialization, it’s easy for someone to fall prey to mental health issues.

It's Importance To You

As a black therapist, I understand how mental and physical health are connected and dependent on each other. How good your mental health is, affects how physically well you are for yourself and your family. People who struggle with serious mental health issues are more vulnerable to developing chronic and lifestyle diseases. Depression, for example, puts one at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even death.

Scientific Connections

Physical and mental health are also connected scientifically :

• Dehydration causes cognitive impairment like short-term memory, slowed attention, mood changes, lack of productivity, and low esteem.

• Lack of sleep can cause the development of severe mental distress and may lead to depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Also, stress-related disorders and illnesses can cause a severe lack of sleep.

• Poor nutrition habits like skipping meals, eating processed and sugary foods, and poor appetite can lead to the severity of depression and mood disorders. What we eat affects our moods and behaviors. Mental health illnesses can also contribute to poor nutrition especially mood disorders.

• Physical inactivity leads to low brain resiliency which is how quickly we dust ourselves up when we go through tough situations, stress, and trauma. A lack of resiliency makes one’s mental health dwindle.

Chronic Illnesses

It is widely known that a high number of African Americans are living with chronic illnesses like cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases, which leaves them at a higher chance of having mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Symptoms of poor mental health can also manifest physically as fatigue, headaches, sensory overload, heart palpitations, stomachaches, sweating, cramps, and restlessness.

Takeaways

Two key takeaways are; there is no health without mental health and physical wellbeing significantly impacts mental health. If you’ve found yourself struggling to take care of your mental health or if your physical illnesses are affecting your mental health, feel free to contact us for a consultation.

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