Physical Symptoms of Mental Disorders

The importance of mental health and well-being has been on the rise lately. People across the globe have realised that mental disorders are as important as physical illnesses, if not more. Mental disorders can lead to severe physical symptoms, causing physical diseases in future if not treated at the earliest.

Are you curious to know more about the physical symptoms of mental illness? Then, read till the end of this article for a detailed overview.

There is no denying the fact that the mind controls the body. When your mind senses something unusual, it starts giving away signals for your body to respond to it.

• For instance, there are two stress hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, and your body fills with these in stressful events, thereby increasing heart rate and blood pressure.
• Apart from that, the effects of mental health on physical health are also visible, as these hormones can harm your digestive and immunity systems. This causes a loss of physical energy till the threat is visible. Then, your body returns to normal when the trigger no longer threatens the mind.
• Moreover, chronic stress causes your cortisol and adrenaline levels to be high constantly for a long time, and it might decline the ability of your organs to function correctly.
• Another issue comes from mental illnesses like anxiety and depression, which can potentially lower your body's pain tolerance
• There are parts of the brain responsible for pain reception, and the two neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine, have the role of pain signalling. So when they fail to act appropriately during mental health issues, their body starts feeling more pain.

Thus, you can see that there is a clear link between body and mind, which makes the body vulnerable to mental health issues. Here are some physical symptoms of mental disorders to help you get a better idea.

Common Physical Symptoms of Mental Disorders

• Migraine and headache
• Back pain
• Muscle tension
• Digestive problems like diarrhoea, constipation and stomach pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Sleep changes
• Rapid mood swings
• Appetite loss
• Weight gain or loss
• Eye problems

A few severe and chronic mental health issues can lead to serious physical illnesses. These are listed below.

• Cardiovascular issues like heart failure, heart attack and stroke
• Obesity 
• Hepatitis
• Tuberculosis
• Pneumonia
• Osteoporosis
• Cancer risks
• Sexual dysfunction and psychotropic

Now that you know the symptoms, it will be beneficial to understand the impact of mental health on physical health. Here are some of the most common mental health issues and their possible effects on your physical health.

1. Worsens Chronic Conditions

Anxiety, panic and depression are some of the most chronic mental disorders. As they affect the brain and hormones for longer, they are more likely to cause serious physical illnesses. For instance, depression can cause asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and arthritis.

Schizophrenia, a psychological condition, can negatively affect your body, and its patients have a higher risk of suffering from heart and respiratory diseases. Moreover, mental health issues further worsen the condition of patients suffering from physical illnesses. For instance, cancer and heart disease patients have a higher mortality rate if they suffer from depression.

2. Causes an Unhealthy Sleep Patterns

Mental health disturbance can cause sleep problems for most people. Depression and anxiety, for instance, can cause insomnia and sleep apnea. Insomnia makes it difficult to fall asleep at night, causing sleep deprivation. This, in turn, causes fatigue, dizziness and nausea during the day.

On the other hand, sleep apnea can lead to respiratory problems, causing breathing trouble while sleeping. In addition, most mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder can cause sleeping problems, disrupting a healthy sleeping pattern.

3. Increases Smoking Tendencies

People suffering from mental health issues are more likely to smoke cigarettes than those who do not suffer from such disorders. This is because they suffer from mental health issues like depression and might experience lower levels of the chemical dopamine. The nicotine content in a cigarette can trigger the production of the chemical dopamine, which affects the positive feelings in your brain.

People smoke to relieve symptoms of depression. However, it can have various adverse effects. For example, excessive tobacco smoking can cause multiple physical disorders like heart disease, lung disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

4. Hampers Digestive System

Clinical researchers have found a clear link between the mind and the gut. For example, stress and anxiety can cause various digestive issues like abdominal cramps, heartburn, or loose stools. Moreover, depression and anxiety can cause diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, pain, and an upset stomach.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) communicates with your brain using hormones, where exchange occurs between the gut and the immune system. It affects the microorganisms living along your gut that help in the digestion process. As they fail to function, you are more likely to experience indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, etc.

5. Reduces Muscle Strength

Muscle tension is a common issue arising from mental health issues. Chronic stress is a major problem for this issue. It causes catabolism of muscle proteins, which decreases the strength of muscles. Additionally, testosterone and growth hormones increase the rate of protein synthesis. However, chronic stress can hamper this process.

Moreover, stress also causes muscle tension, and it causes your body muscles to be in a constant state of guardedness. If your muscles stay taut and tense for a long time, they will trigger other physical reactions. Besides that, fear and stress of muscle pain and injury can also affect the recovery time and process.

6. Damages Immune System

Glucocorticoids regulate the immune system along with cortisol. The communication between immunity and the HPA axis is essential to reduce inflammation. However, this process is hampered in an extremely stressful situations. This results in multiple health issues like fatigue and metabolic disorders like diabetes and obesity.

Cortisol is also responsible for increasing the level of energy fuel while mobilising the glucose and fatty acids from the liver. Therefore, stressful events can cause an increase in cortisol and energy levels, and this increased energy might cause fatigue and dizziness later when such an event is over.

Now that you know how mental health affects physical health, you should know the ways to manage such issues. Here are some tips to help you maintain your physical health while dealing with mental health issues.

• Indulge in Physical Activities: Exercises and physical activities are essential for maintaining physical fitness. However, these can also be beneficial for lifting your mood and improving a low mental and emotional state. Instead of taking severe and extensive training, you can consider simple activities like walking and climbing stairs regularly. Physical fitness will maintain your mental health and well-being and thereby avoid its physical symptoms.
• Try Relaxation Techniques: Relaxation techniques are great for both mental and physical well-being. You can practise activities like meditation, deep breathing, music therapy, long baths, and others for this. These activities are usually efficient for diverting your mind off something disturbing. Moreover, it can help release muscle tension and lower muscle pain.
• Maintain a Balanced Diet: A diet with protein and nutrients is essential for physical and mental well-being. A study done in 2017 showed that nutritional deficiencies can cause mental health issues like schizophrenia. Additionally, a balanced diet can improve physical fitness. Make sure your daily diet has more fruits and vegetables and a lower fat and sugar content. It will help you stay healthy for a long time.
• Avoid Alcohol and Tobacco: Excessive smoking and drinking can take a toll on both your mental and physical health. Alcohol consumption can increase your blood sugar, and its excessive consumption can result in depression and anxiety. Similarly, smoking can increase tension and mood swings. Therefore, avoiding their excessive consumption can be beneficial for you to maintain a healthy mental condition and thereby prevent any physical issues.
• Maintain a Healthy Sleep Routine: A healthy sleep routine is mandatory when it comes to physical and mental well-being. As discussed above, sleep disturbances can cause insomnia and sleep apnea, and these cause further psychological and physical symptoms. An adult needs about 7-9 hours of sleep regularly. In addition, taking short naps during the day can be beneficial to get a hold of your fatigue and dizziness and improve your brain health.
• Develop Better Mental Practises: It is essential to develop good mental practices to ensure a healthy mental condition. For instance, you can focus on positive thoughts and practises, diverting your mind from the things and events that upset you. Moreover, it would help if you spoke up and did not allow your emotions to bottle up inside your mind. This way, you can avoid several mental health issues.
• Seek Help: Finally, consider seeking help from others if you cannot control these symptoms by yourself. Try talking to your friends or family members, and ask about their opinions regarding your condition. If you are not satisfied, you can also consult a psychologist and get professional assistance for your mental health.

Therefore, as you can see, mental illness has various physical symptoms, and mental health can cause physical health issues if left untreated. If you notice these symptoms, visit your physician and handle the problem quickly. Otherwise, you can use the tips mentioned here to address the issues initially.