Positive psychology is based on a belief that people want more than an end to suffering. Individuals want to lead fulfilling lives, cultivate what is best within, and enhance experiences of love, work, and play. Therefore, it is important to shift from focusing on physical and psychological problems to appreciating or cultivating the positives in life. Doing so minimizes health complications and is essential to living a full and meaningful life.

The ability to practice self-care may help prevent or ease many medical and emotional problems. Self-care is good for your health, and is based on a branch of psychology known as positive psychology. More

The Risks of Poor Self-Care

Most of us lead very busy lives, so it is easy for self-care to take a back seat, particularly when it comes to emotional self-care. It is not uncommon for people to believe that they have situations under control when they actually do not. If you or someone you care for is experiencing any of the following physical signs, your psychological health could be out of balance¹:

• Headaches or tension/pain in your back or neck
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Chest pain
• Upset stomach, constipation, or diarrhea
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure or racing heart
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Sexual problems
• Wheezing or shortness of breath

Sometimes we overlook self-care because the negative consequences are not always obvious or immediate. Being diagnosed with diabetes or suffering a heart attack is often a wake-up call for people to start eating healthy and exercising. People often discount the more subtle, but powerful impact of emotional problems on physical health. Stress is sometimes referred to as the "silent killer" because people are not in touch with how it is affecting them. Similarly, people who experience chronic, intense anger may develop heart disease down the road, despite having a clean bill of health in the present.

If emotional problems are severe enough to impact other areas of your functioning, like work/school performance or relationships, there is a good chance that your overall health is being impacted negatively. More

The Physical Connection

It is important to identify when physical problems are impacting emotional well-being. One sign to look out for is isolation from people or activities because of a decline in physical health. Be creative in developing new hobbies and interests when physical health limitations have become challenging. For example, if back pain limits your ability to golf, try fishing or hiking instead, or work on improving your core muscle strength.

The Cost of Poor Self-Care

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th Edition (DSM-IV), poor self-care is not identified as a psychiatric disorder, but poor self-care can contribute to mental disorders. Sometimes people who have emotional problems choose to ignore them. Problems often get worse and can develop into a psychiatric disorder. For example, work-related stress may turn into a Mood or Anxiety Disorder.

According to DSM-IV, Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Conditions are classified as problems that may be the focus of clinical attention, but are not considered mental disorders.

¹ American Academy of Family Physicians (2005). Mind/Body Connection: How Your Emotions Affect Your Health. Accessed 3/23/06.