What is the link between mental health and spiritual health? How are they connected and how do they affect each other?
It is important to look at the human being as three parts in one. (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Soul, body and spirit. The soul contains the emotions etc, the body is the physical part of a person and the spirit contains the faith in God, the conscience and that will also go back to the Father when we die.
They do affect each other in such an internal way, but also external. View it like the construction of a building. There is the foundation and the walls and the roof.
Having faith in God means that you believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ His Son. Christ becomes your foundation, because everything you build in your life from here on out, is centered around bringing glory to His name.
If there is no foundation, the building falls apart. In a more simpler sense, we see that without Christ we fall apart mentally and emotionally. That in turn affects our bodies. Mental health conditions and unbalanced emotions affect the way we take care of ourselves.
So, yes. The one affects the other. Stable mental health can be obtained. But your spiritual health is that much more important.
A study has been made why we react to situations the way we do. It’s called the ACE. The Activating event affects the Emotion and Emotions triggered brings us the Consequence.
To elaborate on this: Someone doesn’t greet you. You feel rejected and you start isolating yourself. But the secret is, if you want to change the consequence, you’ll need to look at your belief. If you believe you’re a failure, you will isolate because someone hasn’t greeted you. But if you believe that you are enough for Christ, the event wouldn’t lead you to isolation.
Thus, our belief system plays a pivotal role in mental health.
The only way we can maintain a healthy spirit is by abiding in Christ. (John 15:4). He is the foundation! Even though we may still suffer from mental health conditions, if our foundation is strong, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13).
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