It is important to get a check-up from the neck up!

Dr. Dave Cavalleri

Check out episode two of the OC MINDMATTERS podcast with Licensed Mental Health Counselor Dr. David Cavalleri. He shares with us the connection between mental and physical health, stressing the importance of ensuring both aspects of health are addressed.


**Note: the podcast episode works best using Google Chrome.**

Mental Health and Physical Health are often talked about as separate from each other. However, the opposite is true. The mind and body are connected, and disturbances in one often affects the other.

If you are physically sick or have pain, depression and anxiety may be the cause. They can also create challenges in other areas of your life such as sleeping, eating, concentration, energy level and overall mood.

If you have a mental health disorder or are in a large amount of emotional distress from life circumstances (finances, divorce, job changes, etc.) your risk of physical ailments (high-blood pressure, heart disease etc.) increases.

For physical problems, most people go to the doctor and get a check-up; however, most people don’t go to a mental health professional for a mental health exam or talk to their doctors about whether or not their emotional stress may be contributing towards their physical symptoms.

We encourage you to take care of your mental health and physical health at the same time, and share with your doctors any stressors you are experiencing. We all know that we need to eat a good diet, get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly and get routine check-ups. These things are important both for your physical health as well as your mental health.

Sometimes taking care of ourselves is hard to do; and if you are struggling, it’s good to talk to your doctor so that they can help you to determine if there are issues with your physical health or mental health and how you can best address these challenges.

Resources:

There are a variety of questionnaires from Mental Health America that can help you decide if what you’re experiencing is related to your mental health. These screening tools are a great way to assess how you’re feeling, as well as your overall needs.