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When Your Brain Won’t Play Nice: How Mental Health Messes with Your Body
The silent relationship between anxiety, depression, and chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension
We often think of our minds and bodies as two separate entities. But what if I told you that the way you feel mentally could be affecting your body in ways that you may not even notice? Anxiety and depression are more than just “all in your head” — they can wreak havoc on your physical health. This is especially true when it comes to chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. In fact, mental health and physical health share a close, sometimes toxic relationship.
In this article, we’ll dig deep into how mental health can exacerbate chronic diseases, and why you should pay as much attention to your brain as you do to your body.
1. The Mind-Body Connection: Not Just a Wellness Trend
It’s easy to assume that mental and physical health are two distinct things. In reality, they’re two sides of the same coin. Your brain and body communicate constantly, like an endless text conversation between old friends (or frenemies, depending on the day). Stress, anxiety, and depression don’t just stay…
