Listening to Chris Williamson this morning on one of the biggest debates going.
Mental health or physical health first? Which one improves the other the most?
Without doubt we now live in a society where mental health issues are on the increase and this in itself causes lack of mobility and motivation.
Physical health is more accessible to everyone. Improvements in basic movements can improves your mental health.
Jimmy Carr has recently said that for anxiety the easiest way to deal woth it is give your brain and immediate problem to deal with like lifting heavy weights.
So fellow fabbers, what do you believe creates the catalyst for healthy change?
* My personal opinion is that improvements in physical health drives improvements in mental health, yes mental health has to be at a level where physical becomes sustainable |
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Too many variables. If my mental health is seriously in the shitter and I push myself to improve my physical health, I'll probably stop costing the NHS money and my family will be a customer of the funeral industry. But that's me. |
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I think physical health and mental health compound eachother in a lot of ways.
If by physical health we are simply talking about overall health/fitness, for the majority of people that is something that can be changed and improved. And like you say, sometimes physical exercise can help when you have low mood or anxiety by working as a distraction, helping mindfulness and giving something different to focus on. Not going to argue with that at all, even going for a walk can improve your mood at times and work at a distraction when you're stressed or outside influences affect your mood.
But sometimes it's physical issues that aren't to do with weight/fitness that can cause mental health issues in the first place. Living with long term chronic conditions as an example. Living with constant debilitating pain can leave people feeling low and demotivated, and unable to do exercise even if they wanted to.
Personally, I suffer quite badly with hormonal issues that have affected my mood on and off for years, and I have a medical issue that gives me horrific periods as well, so I have to be on hormonal contraception to counter act that because that's the only option available to me at the moment. But the contraceptives exacerbate my mood issues, give me skin and hair issues, mess with my sex drive and ability to orgasm plus a host of other side effects. But if I come off contraceptives, then I have to put up with debilitating pain and bleeding 2-3 weeks of every month so having sex would be impossible most of the time anyway, plus I'd probably be unable to work or leave the house during my worst week of the month. Having to put up with all of that compounds my low mood at times, especially when my hormones are also up the wall and making me irrationally emotional, and it can be mentally overwhelming. But most of the time I am resilient enough to just get on with it.
I appreciate I haven't really answered your question there, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's not always as simple as taking up exercise to make you feel better, if it's your physical health that is causing your mental health issues. I'm sure that absolutely does work for some people! But for others, their mental health issues are caused by chemical imbalances, neurodiversity or physical issues that aren't just going to disappear if they start weight lifting etc.
I wish there was an easy answer. But it's complicated and nuanced. There are so many variables as to why people have mental health problems.
I also think if it was as simple as getting fit acting as a catalyst to improving mental health, our mental health services wouldn't be in such a crisis. |
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"I think physical health and mental health compound eachother in a lot of ways.
If by physical health we are simply talking about overall health/fitness, for the majority of people that is something that can be changed and improved. And like you say, sometimes physical exercise can help when you have low mood or anxiety by working as a distraction, helping mindfulness and giving something different to focus on. Not going to argue with that at all, even going for a walk can improve your mood at times and work at a distraction when you're stressed or outside influences affect your mood.
But sometimes it's physical issues that aren't to do with weight/fitness that can cause mental health issues in the first place. Living with long term chronic conditions as an example. Living with constant debilitating pain can leave people feeling low and demotivated, and unable to do exercise even if they wanted to.
Personally, I suffer quite badly with hormonal issues that have affected my mood on and off for years, and I have a medical issue that gives me horrific periods as well, so I have to be on hormonal contraception to counter act that because that's the only option available to me at the moment. But the contraceptives exacerbate my mood issues, give me skin and hair issues, mess with my sex drive and ability to orgasm plus a host of other side effects. But if I come off contraceptives, then I have to put up with debilitating pain and bleeding 2-3 weeks of every month so having sex would be impossible most of the time anyway, plus I'd probably be unable to work or leave the house during my worst week of the month. Having to put up with all of that compounds my low mood at times, especially when my hormones are also up the wall and making me irrationally emotional, and it can be mentally overwhelming. But most of the time I am resilient enough to just get on with it.
I appreciate I haven't really answered your question there, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's not always as simple as taking up exercise to make you feel better, if it's your physical health that is causing your mental health issues. I'm sure that absolutely does work for some people! But for others, their mental health issues are caused by chemical imbalances, neurodiversity or physical issues that aren't just going to disappear if they start weight lifting etc.
I wish there was an easy answer. But it's complicated and nuanced. There are so many variables as to why people have mental health problems.
I also think if it was as simple as getting fit acting as a catalyst to improving mental health, our mental health services wouldn't be in such a crisis. "
Thank you so much for this and I completely heart what you are saying x
Maybe I should of clarified physical a little more. For me physical is to do with everything really not just exercise or gym. Maybe I gave an ambiguous example.
I do agree that the 2 are intertwined but from your perspective I see that you are doing everything you can to not only manage your physical health but to fight back. Your level of awareness is an inspiration ✨️ |
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" Thank you so much for this and I completely heart what you are saying x
Maybe I should of clarified physical a little more. For me physical is to do with everything really not just exercise or gym. Maybe I gave an ambiguous example.
I do agree that the 2 are intertwined but from your perspective I see that you are doing everything you can to not only manage your physical health but to fight back. Your level of awareness is an inspiration ✨️ "
Oh don't get me wrong, there's lots of stuff I could do to improve my own physical health in other ways that would make me healthier in ways totally unrelated to the example I gave. But even if I was a size 8 fitness model with loads of confidence, I'd still have the issues to do with my hormones and reproductive health, and they would still impact my mental health.
It's just complicated I guess is what I'm trying to say 😅 and as much as physical health has a role to play in overall wellbeing, when it comes to mental health so do things like counselling, CBT, medication when they are needed etc. Getting support to get out of bad relationships, getting out of debt, finding meaningful work that isn't exploitative.
For some people just making it through the day is a win. Being pressured by a doctor to get fit when what they actually need is therapy or support, isn't going to help them and might make things worse. Whereas for some people getting a free gym membership and taking up running or weight lifting might do them good. Everyone is different and like I said earlier, nuanced.
I hope that makes sense. |
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Blimey Marc, I was ready to throw in my dinosaur egg answer 
Physical exercise is recommended for mental health, because of the endorphin release, natures answer to happy pills.
I use food in the same way, the act of eating, stops my anxiety attacks and grounds me better than any cbt therapy.
|
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For me it was seeing in black and white:
YOUR LIVER IS NOT WORKING NORMALLY. Enzyme levels are concerning.
So basically, I got my act together and got my arse in gear, or I knew I would end up dead in my 60s after painful dialysis and/or liver failure like my aunts. My mother did take care of herself and managed to make it to 82.
2 stone lighter now, eating delicious whole food, strength training a few times a week and my mental health has benefitted as well. I am “rawdogging” perimenopause- don’t want to go on HRT. Someone suggested I cut out caffeine to help with anxiety and panic attacks and palpitations- dunno, call it placebo effect, but it’s working. |
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"Blimey Marc, I was ready to throw in my dinosaur egg answer
Physical exercise is recommended for mental health, because of the endorphin release, natures answer to happy pills.
I use food in the same way, the act of eating, stops my anxiety attacks and grounds me better than any cbt therapy.
"
Food is a very interesting one and it has never crossed my mind until now.
I guess when people 'comfort' eat is has very much the same affect with the brain.
I still want to hear about the dinosaur egg 😂 |
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"For me it was seeing in black and white:
YOUR LIVER IS NOT WORKING NORMALLY. Enzyme levels are concerning.
So basically, I got my act together and got my arse in gear, or I knew I would end up dead in my 60s after painful dialysis and/or liver failure like my aunts. My mother did take care of herself and managed to make it to 82.
2 stone lighter now, eating delicious whole food, strength training a few times a week and my mental health has benefitted as well. I am “rawdogging” perimenopause- don’t want to go on HRT. Someone suggested I cut out caffeine to help with anxiety and panic attacks and palpitations- dunno, call it placebo effect, but it’s working. "
So very much the physical cane before the mental?
I often think to make changes we need to hit some kind of low point in our lives and I'm happy you took it serious enough to start that change and from the sounds of it you are still looking for ways to move forwards in better health |
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By *alm_one4Man 28 weeks ago
Close To The Edge, Down Bi The River |
For me, I’m a lot happier when I’m getting regular exercise, didn’t do well in Lockdown at all. Not that I suffer badly but my lowest times are when I’m not exercising.
So physical leads to mental for me. |
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They are interconnected but If I had to chose between which I would improve first I would go with physical health.
I would just focus on the basics: making sure I got up and moved as much as I could. Preferably walking. I would make sure I got proper sleep and I ate a simple but balanced diet. Just get some blood and oxygen flowing through my body. My mental health would likely improve just through the physical changes in my body. |
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Every now and again I work in an office environment for long hours and start to skip the gym and the walking.
With a week or two I start to feel miserable, bordering on depressed.
Physical health is first for me leading to, in my case, a happy and stable mind.
I think if you’re properly in a bad place mentally though then the motivation for physical exercise won’t be there.
Seek professional help. |
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