Importance of emotional well-being  of youth 

What is Emotional Well being?

Emotional well-being refers to the emotional quality of an individual's experiences. Emotional well-being is influenced by a variety of psychological, demographic, economic, and situational factors. For example, the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak lowered emotional well-being by 74% in China according to one study.

What are emotions ?

To truly understand emotional wellness, we must understand what emotions are. The American Psychological Association defines emotion as “a complex reaction pattern, involving experiential, behavioral, and physiological elements, by which individual attempts to deal with a personally significant matter or event.”

Why is Understanding Emotional Wellness Important?

Emotional wellness is a crucial component of our overall health. A paper from the BMJ discussed how important emotional well-being is for our health and how it is tied to other facets of overall wellness¹. The article states that “research shows that emotional distress creates susceptibility to physical illness.” Additionally, they found that emotional wellness facilitates recovery and protects us from premature mortality.
Cultivating emotional wellness is essential for finding happiness and success. We will all face hardships and challenges. Those that are emotionally healthy have the ability to deal with these challenges, including stress, relationships, responsibilities, upsetting events, and unanticipated situations.

How Does Emotional Wellness Play a Role in Your Support Network?

Life is not always easy, but that is not what emotional health is about. Emotional wellness does not mean you are perfect - free from negative thoughts and problems with friends and family. Instead, it means you have the ability to cope with all of life’s uncertainties.

Emotional wellness is critical for relationships. We need emotional balance to help us effectively interact with the people we meet in our everyday lives. These relationships are vital to cultivate a strong support network.

We cannot correctly navigate relationships if we are not emotionally well ourselves. Weak emotional health strains relationships with family and friends because we cannot correctly handle the everyday ups and downs of social interactions.

How Does Emotional Wellness Play a Role in Your Mental Health?

One of the most important ways your emotional wellness affects you is through your physical health. These two dimensions of wellness are profoundly connected. A study found that emotional valence reduced the occurrence of illness because the mind and body interact so closely².
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, “poor mental health is a risk factor for chronic physical conditions.”³ The connection between our mental health and overall wellness is compelling, which is part of the essential reasons why you must strive to maintain your emotional wellness.

Two Examples of Emotional Well-being

• A woman battling feelings of depression lacks the motivation to do anything, but she makes herself take a walk with the dog because she knows exercise and fresh air can help her. 

• A student under chronic stress from school and work, but instead of pulling an all-nighter, he goes home to make sure he gets enough sleep, feeling confident that he did his best to prepare for the upcoming exam. 

It can be challenging to remember, but emotional wellness is not the absence of unwelcome feelings. On the contrary, the key is to understand and manage your thoughts and cope with roller-coaster emotions.
The key to emotional wellness is choosing how to respond and overcome mistakes. It is understanding your feelings and choosing to live your life in a way that is best for you.

How to Optimize Emotional Health and Manage Stress

1. Exercise. Exercise, even light activity like walking, produces endorphins, which can reduce feelings associated with depression. It’s even better if you can get outside to soak up some Vitamin D!⁴
2. Mindfulness :A study shows that incorporating mindful habits in your daily life results in being more emotionally stable. Mindfulness can help you learn how to be in the present and manage your emotions. Practice meditation, relaxation methods, and find inner peace - which will help you cope with stress, anxiety, and depression⁵. 
3. Be grateful. Write down the positive things in your life. Remembering what we appreciate helps us find joy, reduces stress, and improves mental health⁶. 
4. Socialize. Connecting with friends and family fosters relationships to help you gain the support that you need to handle even the most difficult situations with confidence. Having someone you can talk to, ask for advice, or even vent your stress can certainly help a lot.
5. Supplements. Our diets often lack some essential vitamins and minerals that can help us regulate our emotions. For the extra boost toward emotional well-being, incorporate some top mood-enhancing supplements like Rheidol Rosea, Hyperforin / St. John’s Wort, Vitamin D, and 5-HTP - all of which can be found in Armory.