The Importance of Good Emotional Hygiene for Your Mental Health
We spend a lot of time worrying about our physical health, but sometimes we neglect our minds. To maintain good mental health, you can practice “emotional hygiene” the same way you practice good physical hygiene to maintain physical health.
In this TED talk, psychologist Guy Winch describes another type of trauma: psychological trauma. These “injuries” are not the result of twists, fractures and sprains, but mental trauma caused by failure, rejection, and especially chronic loneliness. As Winch explains, loneliness and other psychological trauma can harm your physical health; possibly causing high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or even suppressing your immune system.
So, what can you do to combat the negative effects of trauma? Imagine these injuries as wounds like any other and require good hygiene to heal. Stop and notice when you feel emotional pain and realize that you are in pain so you can deal with it. Stop “emotional bleeding” by avoiding negative thoughts so you can get rid of it. Also, it never hurts to turn to someone – then even when the wound is too deep. And when you are not hurt, build up your self-esteem to develop some protection for the future. Don’t leave these types of injuries untreated because they will only get worse, just like the real ones.