Hey Mamas, let’s talk about emotional health vs mental health real quick!
We often think of emotional and mental health as the same thing, but they are actually different. While emotional health is a component of mental health, they are not interchangeable terms.
They both work together to affect your overall well being, but also function independently from each other. In this article, I’ll define and explain emotional health vs mental health.
What Is Emotional Health?
Emotional health is the ability to identify, assess, and manage our emotions. It’s an important aspect of mental health and has a significant impact on how we feel about ourselves and others.
Emotional health also refers to our ability to acknowledge, understand, process, and use information about our own feelings.
This means that you recognise when your mood changes, know why it has changed, are able to talk about it with someone else (if you choose), or deal with negative emotions without acting on them in a destructive way.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Which includes how we think about ourselves and others around us. Being mentally healthy is not merely the absence of mental illness.
You may also hear it referred to as “mental wellness” or “mental strength” because it can improve your overall quality of life.
Additionally, mental health includes how we feel about our lives as opposed to just feeling low or unhappy at this moment in time. It is a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.
Similarities Between Mental and Emotional Health
Although we are talking about emotional health vs mental health, you may be asking yourself, “What are the similarities between the two?”
Well, it’s simple: emotional health includes all of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that relate to your emotions. While mental health includes all of your thoughts, feelings and behaviors that relate to your mind.
In other words, emotional health is a part of mental wellness. Not all aspects of your life can be considered solely as either one or the other. For example, if you are having trouble sleeping because you’re feeling anxious about something in your life then this would count as an aspect of both mental wellness AND emotional wellbeing!
Overall, emotional health is an essential component to mental health.
Mental and Emotional Health Examples
Mental health is a state of emotional well-being in which an individual is able to adapt to the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and be able to interact with others. It’s not the absence of mental illness, but rather a combination of factors including:
- Having a positive attitude toward yourself and others.
- Feeling good about your accomplishments.
- Taking responsibility for your actions.
- Being able to control your impulses or behavior.
Emotional health is all about your feelings. It’s not just about feeling good; it’s also about other people’s feelings and how they affect you. Emotional health is easier to understand by example:
- You feel sad when your friend breaks up with his girlfriend.
- You feel happy when you get a new job or make more money at work.
- Someone else feels angry because they were cut off in traffic, even though no one was hurt and there wasn’t any damage done to any vehicles involved (or property).
Examples of Good Emotional Health and Mental Health
The best way to determine whether you are in good mental and emotional health is if you feel like:
- You can take care of yourself, such as by eating well, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and managing stress.
- You are able to take care of others’ needs (e.g., children) and respect their boundaries.
- You make decisions that are healthy for both your body and mind (e.g., drinking too much alcohol).
Mental and Emotional Health Resources
Mental health and emotional health are closely connected and both play an important role in one’s overall well-being. When one is suffering from mental or emotional issues, it can be difficult to just “snap out of it” and feel like yourself again.
If you are struggling with either, it may be wise to seek professional help from a counselor, therapist, psychiatrist or self-help resources.
A few I recommend:
- Online Therapy – It’s so much more than live sessions and messaging. It’s a complete happiness toolbox. Get matched with a qualified therapist within a minute.
- MyWellbeing – MyWellbeing connects clients with the therapist right for them, ensuring that people of all backgrounds can get the mental health care they need.
- TalkSpace – Talkspace offers affordable, confidential therapy with a professional licensed therapist, anytime and anyplace, through a mobile device or on the web.
- Calmerry – Calmerry is a secure e-counseling platform that makes therapy accessible and affordable to anyone. They connect clients with fully-licensed, thoroughly vetted therapists who draw on evidence-based approaches.
- Panic Away – Helping to End Panic Attacks and General Anxiety Attacks Naturally. In the past 10 years, The Panic Away Program has touched over 70,000+ lives in 32 countries worldwide. Everyone has used it from soccer moms to famous celebrities.
- I Am Enough – An award-winning personal development program created by globally-acclaimed therapist, Marisa Peer. Marisa believes one singular limiting belief that stops people from attracting love, wealth, happiness, and success was the belief that they are not good enough.
Another resource people use to improve their mental and emotional health is journaling. Read about the health benefits of journaling in Kasee Bailey’s article, 5 Powerful Health Benefits of Journaling. See Product and Services I Recommend for my journal recommendations!
Want to know the state of your emotional and mental health? Take our Emotional Health Quiz and our Mental Health Quiz today! If you are having problems with your emotional or mental health, please seek help. There are many resources available to assist you with your wellness journey.
If you are feeling suicidal, please call a suicide hotline right away: 1-800-273-8255.
Other Articles You Will Enjoy!
The Ultimate Guide to Emotional Self-Care
24 Critical Journaling Prompts for Mental Health
9 Mental Health Activities for Adults
