How health problems affect mood: I tell you from experience

Hello, I'm Pablo Garcia, and I want to talk to you about something I know firsthand: how health problems affect mood. Throughout my life I have gone through several challenges, and I can tell you, without mincing words, that physical health and emotional state are connected in a way as intimate as a well-coordinated dance.

I'm going to explain to you how, from my experience, physical ups and downs can leave you stranded emotionally, and what you can do to not sink into that emotional pit. Here we go.

Body and mind: more connected than you think

When talking about health, many think only of bones, muscles, blood... but don't realize that everything is connected. When something goes wrong in your body, believe me it doesn't take long before it starts to affect your mood.

For example, did you know that when you're stressed or anxious, your immune system weakens? This means you get sick more easily, as if your body is saying, "Hey, I can't handle all this." So, that flu that won't go away may just be the tip of the iceberg, because behind that is a brain that is also saying, "I can't take it anymore."

Extreme fatigue, headaches or even digestive discomfort are signals your body sends you when emotionally you're not well. And you know what's worse? When you feel physically bad, your mood plummets.

I'll tell you straight: when you're physically exhausted, the last thing you feel like is being optimistic. You don't even have the strength to put on a forced smile.

My story: How I started to realize this connection

To give you a clearer idea, I'll tell you how I experienced it. At age 35, I was diagnosed with hypertension problems. Of course, at first I thought, "Bah, the typical thing, with pills it's fixed." Mistake! What I didn't expect was that along with high blood pressure, came emotional pressure. I felt anxiety and nerves constantly, but for no apparent reason.

That was when I realized: my body and my mood were playing on the same team, and when one failed, the other did too.

Suddenly, everyday things like going to work or being with friends seemed like titanic tasks. And of course, physical exhaustion from hypertension caused my mood to plummet. It was a vicious cycle.

Why does it affect mood so much when you have health problems?

This is where the science comes in, because it's not all personal experience (although believe me, mine is worth its weight in gold). When you're physically unwell, the brain reacts. The stress hormones, such as cortisol, spike. And, when these hormones are out of control, not only do you feel anxiety, but they also affect your sleep patterns, your energy and your ability to concentrate.

It's as if your body and mind are in survival mode. And in that state, there's no room for feeling happy. What's more, when you're sick, whether it's from something chronic or temporary, you start to see the world through different eyes. Everything seems grayer.

The Invisible Effects: Low mood isn't always visible

When we talk about how health problems affect mood, it's not always easy to identify. It's not like you go around crying all day (although that can happen). Sometimes, the effects are more subtle. You may feel irritable, unmotivated or just.... shut down.

A funny thing happened to me. Although I didn't feel terribly depressed, I realized that I was no longer excited by the same things I used to be. What used to make me jump for joy, now left me indifferent. I found it hard to make sense of what I was doing.

Has this happened to you? If the answer is yes, trust me, you're not alone.

How stress affects your physical health... and vice versa

Let me tell you one thing: stress is a bastard. And I'm not just telling you this because of how I feel, but because it's scientifically proven. When you're under chronic stress, you start to feel muscle aches, digestive problems and, in some cases, even cardiovascular disease.

I used to think I could handle stress. But what I didn't know is that managing it doesn't mean eliminating it. And the body always takes its toll.

If you're constantly worried about your health, no matter how slight the problem, your brain interprets it as a threat, and then "fight or flight" mode kicks in. But you know what, no one can live like this for long without their emotional health paying the price.

When physical health becomes a mental prison

I've known people who, like me, started out with physical problems and ended up completely trapped in their heads. The anxiety about being sick is real. I lived it. You become a hypochondriac, you obsess over every symptom, and your mind starts building catastrophic scenarios.

It's a vicious cycle: you feel bad physically, which makes you feel worse mentally, and in turn, that mental state makes you feel worse physically. And so on and so on.

Keys to not let your mood fall into the abyss

But don't worry, because it's not all bad. I've learned a few things along the way that I want to share with you. Let's see if they help you as much as they help me:

1. Recognize the problem: The first thing is to know that you are not well. It's not about being weak, it's about being honest with yourself.
3. Care for your body: This sounds basic, but trust me, when you feel bad physically, the solution is not to stay in bed. Moving your body helps move your mind
5. Talk to someone: This may sound cliché, but sharing how you feel lightens the load.
7. Seeking professional help: Sometimes, the problem goes beyond what we can handle alone. A therapist or doctor can give you the tools you need to move forward
9. Change your perspective: This was key for me. Instead of thinking, "Why me?", I began to see my health problems as a challenge I could overcome.

In short, health problems affect mood in ways that we often aren't able to see immediately. But the important thing to know is that we are not doomed to feel this way forever. With small steps and the right approach, you can dig yourself out of that hole. Believe me, I did it!

It's important to know that we're not doomed to feel this way forever.