According to psychiatrist Vítor Cotovio "if I have more mental health, I can probably manage better what is going on in my body, my physical pains, soul pains. If I have less mental health, I will probably have more difficulty in dealing with my physical illnesses and I have more difficulty and less availability to relate well either with myself or with others".
Nowadays, we hear people say that they go to the gym because they need to improve their physique. There are those who want to lose weight, those who want to gain muscle or those who just want to adopt a healthier and less sedentary lifestyle.
But what many people might not know is that when they go to the gym or practice another type of physical exercise, they are also taking care of mental health. Vítor Cotovio explains that physical exercise acts as a "medicine for our mental health".
"Physical exercise increases and regulates protective chemical substances, which are tonic substances for our mental health and eliminates toxic substances. The same applies to healthy eating. If I get intoxicated by fat and sugars, I often create a disharmony in my physical component that has an effect on my mental balance".
In addition to physical exercise, there are also other practices that help in the development of good mental health, such as, for example, meditation and relaxation. Taking 10 minutes a day to meditate can help you lower your stress and anxiety levels, be more patient and more relaxed, and have a better quality of life.
Interaction with people also plays a crucial role. “We should always try to interact with people who give us good energy and avoid toxic people, who give us negative feelings”, the psychiatrist suggests.
According to psychiatrist Vítor Cotovio "mental disorders are the result of an interaction between biological and psychosocial factors. Basically, what defines a mental disorder is the suffering, the dysfunctionality, the intensity and the persistence of that situation".
