How Mental Health Affects Your Immune System

Anxiety Symptoms

One of the leading ways that mental health can affect your immune system is through anxiety. The symptoms of anxiety, such as fatigue, can lead your body to mimic the symptoms of a cold or flu. That sends your immune system into overdrive. This means that it is focusing on what it believes to be a cold or flu instead of other issues in the body.

Inflammation

When you have mental health issues from depression and anxiety, you may start to notice increased fatigue, which can lead to inflammation and swelling in your muscles and joints. This is usually due to the body becoming tired and then reacting by not wanting to move as much or just feeling drained. This overload on your immune system as it tries to counteract inflammation can cause your body to be even more fatigued and reduced in effectiveness.

Constant Tension

Mental health issues such as anxiety and tension can lead to having your body tense all the time. This can lead to migraines, tension headaches, lack of sleep, and the feeling of aches and pains throughout the day. As you start having multiple symptoms from the constant tension, your body will try to react. This reduces the effectiveness of your immune system and overall makes illness more likely.

Stress-Related Issues

Daily ongoing stresses can build into a major stress-filled reaction, causing your immune system to be less effective.  This stress can come from working through a chaotic daily schedule that has you going non-stop, trying to maintain a large to-do list, or from dealing with the issues of other people in your home and family. Try journaling to help flesh out the stressors that could be in your life. You can identify them and then work through them at your own pace to help reduce the impact on your immune system. Also see 6 Simple Tricks to Handle Pressure

Sleep Issues

When you have mental health issues, you may find yourself sleeping a lot. This is likely due to depression and even though you are sleeping a lot, you may still feel tired. This is because the sleep you are getting is not deep sleep and is therefore not restful. That means your digestive system, immune system, and other systems of your body are not resting either. Try establishing a normal sleep routine to get back on track. Also see Easy Ways to Establish a Normal Sleep Routine: 

Immune System Boosting Supplements and Herbs

Here are a few immune boosting supplements and herbs that can give your body the extra edge it needs to boost the immune system and fight off illness without taxing your body. Also see: Boost Your Immune System with Superfoods: 

• Probiotics can repopulate good bacteria in your digestive tract and help break down and eliminate toxins.
• Omega 3 fatty acids help your body work at optimal levels to help fight bacteria and are known to reduce inflammation.
• Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin essential for the normal growth and repair of connective tissue, namely, bone, cartilage, blood vessels and skin – and is key for a strong and well-functioning immune system.
• Elderberry has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce aches and pains in your system, which leads to better sleep and fatigue relief.
• Ginger boasts many potent anti-inflammatory compounds, including a variety of antioxidants, which are substances that protect your body from damage by free radicals.
• Astragalus has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties; studies have shown that it also has antiviral properties and stimulates the immune system.

 Other Habits to Help Your Immune System

• Exercise: Not only does exercise take your mind off of whatever is stressing you out, it also helps your brain to release positive endorphins that can make you feel great and boost your immune system.
• Meditation: There is evidence that meditation improves symptoms of anxiety, depression, and pain, and mental health-related quality of life. Meditation, which can be done in many forms, also helps your mind and body to slow down and focus on root issues and find ways to handle issues so they don’t get out of hand.
• Journaling has a direct connection to stress levels and can reveal stress-inducing instances that you may not think of as an issue. By journaling each day, you will find yourself able to rant, release stress, and figure out what may be causing undue stress so you can remove it.
• Hydration is a key factor with our overall health, especially with your immune system. If your body does not have adequate hydration, it can’t function properly and stresses your organs and immune system. You may think that you are getting enough, but remember, your body needs plain filtered water to keep it going. Make sure that you are getting water as you are other liquids like juice.

By taking on daily healthy habits focused on your mental health and immune system, they may help you feel better, and prevent illnesses and other immune-system issues.