What is emotional health? Real examples
Written by editorial staff writer at Hola. Medically reviewed by Amira Shah, MA in Counselling Psychology, Registered Psychotherapist.
Contents
What is emotional health?
Emotional health is all about how we recognise, manage and positively show our feelings. It means being aware of what triggers our emotions, managing stress effectively, and developing resilience to face life's ups and downs. When someone has good emotional health, they can build strong relationships, recover from difficulties, and keep a hopeful perspective even when things get tough. This also involves being self-aware, having empathy for others, and controlling our emotions. It plays a vital role in our overall well-being, influencing how we think, feel, and relate to the world. Taking care of our emotional health through practises like self-care, mindfulness, and asking for help when needed is important for living a balanced and fulfilling life.Symptoms of emotional health struggle
Emotional health issues can show up in various ways. You might notice mood swings, ongoing sadness or anxiety, or even pulling away from social situations. Low self-esteem and trouble handling stress are also common signs. Changes in how you sleep or eat could occur, along with a lack of interest in things you usually enjoy, feelings of hopelessness, or difficulty focusing. If you find that these feelings don’t go away, reaching out to a mental health professional can help you work through these emotional struggles.Mental Health Care Plan
- Connect with trained health practitioners anytime
- Available 24 hours a day, all year round
- 100% Medicare bulk billed
- Australia-wide
Examples of emotional health
Examples of good emotional health include:- Getting through tough times: It’s about bouncing back when life gets hard, like when you lose a job or face personal issues, all while staying positive.
- Knowing yourself: It involves being aware of your feelings and how they affect your thoughts and actions, like recognising when you feel stressed or anxious.
- Good relationships: This is about creating and keeping positive, supportive connections with friends, family, and coworkers, while also knowing when to set limits.
- Handling emotions: It means finding healthy ways to cope with strong feelings like anger or frustration instead of exploding or keeping them to yourself.
- Understanding others: This is the ability to feel what others are going through, which helps you connect with them and provide support.
- Being kind to yourself: It’s important to show yourself some compassion during tough times instead of being too hard on yourself.
- Clear communication: It’s about respectfully sharing your needs and feelings and listening to what others have to say.
Difference between mental health and emotional health?
Mental health and emotional health are closely related but distinct aspects of overall well-being. Mental health focuses on cognitive and psychological functioning, while emotional health is about understanding, expressing, and managing emotions. Here’s the key difference:Mental health:
Mental health is about how we think and feel every day. It plays a big role in how we handle stress, make decisions, and connect with others. When someone has good mental health, they can face daily tasks, be productive at work, and build positive relationships. However, some people may struggle with issues like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder.Emotional health:
Emotional health focuses on how we process and express our feelings. It’s all about being aware of our emotions, whether it’s joy, sadness, anger, or fear, and healthily dealing with them. This aspect of health also includes being aware of ourselves, showing empathy toward others, and bouncing back from challenges. If someone is facing difficulties with their emotional health, they might experience mood swings, struggle to manage their emotions or rely on unhealthy ways to cope. Emotional health involves understanding, expressing, and managing emotions.How to work on your emotional health?
Improving emotional health is an ongoing process that involves self-awareness, self-care, and building emotional resilience. Here are some practical steps you can take to work on your emotional health:- Check-in with yourself: Take some time to notice how you are feeling. Understand what brings about those feelings. Keeping a journal or practising mindfulness can help you connect more with your emotions.
- Find healthy ways to cope: Look for ways to handle stress and tough emotions. Activities like exercising, meditating, or taking deep breaths can be really helpful. Try to steer clear of unhealthy habits like drinking too much, overeating, or isolating yourself from others.
- Build your ability to recover: Work on getting better at bouncing back from difficulties by seeing challenges as chances to learn and grow. Focus on coming up with solutions, stay positive, and be kind to yourself during hard times.
- Surround yourself with support: Spend time with people who care about you and lift you. Good relationships give you emotional support, encourage understanding, and help you feel a sense of belonging.
- Know your limits: It’s okay to say "no" when you need to and to set clear boundaries with others. This protects your emotional health and helps to lower stress.
- Take care of yourself: Make sure to look after your body, mind, and feelings by doing things that recharge you—whether that’s enjoying nature, engaging in hobbies, or getting enough sleep.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help: If you’re struggling, reach out for support. Speaking with a therapist or counsellor can offer you guidance and help you deal with tough emotions.
- Focus on the good: Taking time to notice the positive things in your life can change the way you feel. Consider keeping a gratitude journal or just taking a moment each day to think about what you appreciate.
When should I seek a doctor’s appointment?
If you find yourself struggling with emotional or mental health issues that are making everyday life tough, it’s a good idea to reach out to a doctor. Some signs to watch for include:- Frequent mood swings, irritability, or emotional outbursts
- Pulling away from friends, family, or social events
- Thoughts about harming yourself or someone else
- Difficulty handling stress or juggling daily tasks
How can a Mental Health Care Plan help?
If you're facing emotional or mental health issues, a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) can help. In Australia, this plan lets you get support for counselling and psychological services that are partly covered by Medicare. A GP will look at your mental health situation and set up a plan tailored just for you. Having an MHCP means you can keep getting the professional care you need for problems like anxiety, depression, or stress, making it easier and more affordable to seek support. Taking care of your emotional health is key to living a happy and balanced life. It involves recognising your feelings, dealing with them in a constructive way, and handling difficulties in a manner that benefits your overall well-being. By practising things like mindfulness, being kind to yourself, and developing good habits, you can improve your mental and physical health, strengthen your relationships, and become more resilient when faced with stress.Mental Health Care Plan
- Connect with trained health practitioners anytime
- Available 24 hours a day, all year round
- 100% Medicare bulk billed
- Australia-wide
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This content is created for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. For emergencies please immediately contact 000.
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Address: 79 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
For urgent medical help & in case of emergency,
call 000.
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