It’s become quite a cliché to hear people talk about how our minds can affect our health, but this can have the unintended effect of people just brushing off this idea as New Age mumbo-jumbo. The reality is that a great deal of our well-being is linked to our state of mind!
There is a lot to unpack when talking about psychology and well-being, but in terms of how it can impact our physical health, we’ve long known that our mental health can have a detrimental effect on our physical well-being. Poor mental health can lead to a number of issues for us:
- Poor mental health can disrupt our sleep pattern and poor sleep hygiene can negatively affect our hormones. This can negatively affect our mood and interfere with our day-to-day activities.
- Poor mental health has been linked to a higher risk of developing chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
- Poor mental hygiene can lead to chronic stress and anxiety and can eventually wear down our body over time, making us weaker and more susceptible to illness.
These chronic conditions can in turn rebound and further exacerbate our current mental health issues and become a cycle that can lead to anxiety and depression. Considering how this can affect us long-term, it’s surprising how we’re not all putting in more effort to work on our own mental well-being.
Coincidentally, people in the fitness industry seems to be taking this connection much more seriously. It’s a physical fitness industry, but you also see them building lifestyle-changing action plans that not only include physical exercise, but also the nutrition, sleep hygiene, and the psychology aspect that leads to fitness. The discipline that’s required to make positive lifestyle changes requires the cultivation of a healthy mind. Conversely, there is the idea that a poorly maintained mind has a harder time committing to well-being. In essence, the mind and the body must work as one for fitness and health!
- Meditation and mindfulness – Meditation and mindfulness are great tools for maintaining a healthy mind. These practices can reduce stress, improve emotional regulation, and have positive physiological effects like lowering blood pressure and boosting our immune function. It can reduce mood swings, enhance emotional regulation, and can even help with focus and attention.
Psychology and well-being is a core part of our Master of Science in Applied Psychology. The Psychology and Wellbeing module investigates the relationship between psychological factors and overall well-being. It looks at how thoughts and feelings affect overall happiness and health and how to improve mental well-being.
Join us at College of Allied Educators to learn more about how you can equip yourself with a deeper understanding of applied psychology and its application in provision of psychological client care and treatment!
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
Delivered collaboratively by Aston University and the College of Allied Educators (CAE), the MSc applied psychology equips students with knowledge, skills, and practical experience to pursue a successful, rewarding career in clinical psychology. Throughout the 15-month part-time programme, students will explore social psychology, brain and behaviour, cognition and cognitive neuropsychology, and psychology and well-being.
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