The ability to acknowledge and cope with both positive and negative emotions is a sign of good emotional health. Emotional well-being, or emotional health or wellness, refers to how well people are able to accept and manage their emotions and cope with challenges throughout life.

Emotional health can affect how well someone can function day to day or how they are able to deal with change or uncertainty. This article looks at emotional well-being, what factors can affect it, signs someone may be experiencing difficulties with emotional well-being, and tips to improve it.

The National Center for Emotional Wellness NCEW describes emotional wellness or well-being as an awareness, understanding, and acceptance of feelings and an ability to manage effectively through times of change or challenge.

Uncomfortable or painful emotions and overwhelming thoughts can affect how well individuals function and may make people feel they are losing control of their lives.

By gaining awareness of the emotions each person feels and how to process them, the NCEW says people can regain a feeling of control, minimize difficulties, and continue to function healthily. According to the National Institutes of Health NIH , emotional well-being is important because it can affect how people function and carry out everyday tasks.

It can also affect how well individuals are able to handle stressful situations and challenges, how they adapt to change, and how they respond to difficult life events.

Issues with emotional well-being can also affect physical health and may lead to higher blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and increased illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC note that being mentally healthy can help children to:.

Emotional well-being issues in children can lead to problems in school, at home, and in their ability to form relationships. According to the American Seniors Housing Association ASHA , getting older does not directly influence quality of life, but emotional health difficulties can reduce it.

The changes with getting older may affect health, social relationships, or sense of purpose, which may all affect emotional well-being. In turn, this may have a negative effect on physical health. For example, a review states that older adults with coronary heart disease, chronic lung disease, and arthritis had high levels of depression.

Signs that people are experiencing difficulties may include :. The NIH offers the following strategies for improving emotional health and well-being:. Staying in the present moment may help people become more aware of everything going on internally and in their surroundings and release thoughts or worries.

To practice mindfulness, individuals can:. Some stress can be helpful when carrying out tasks, and it is typical to feel it now and then, but long-term stress can be unhealthy. People can help lower stress by:.

Holding onto positive emotions for longer, noticing and appreciating the good things in life, and quickly bouncing back from challenges are all signs of emotional resilience.

People may be able to build this by:. Healthy social connections may help improve emotional, physical, and mental well-being. To create a positive support system, people can try:. Your emotional health is key to a happy life. Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author.

Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments.

It consists of positive social relationships, autonomy, environmental mastery, self-acceptance, a sense of purpose, and personal growth. The absence of distress does not necessarily indicate a person has high psychological well-being. High psychological well-being is about feeling happy and doing well.

People with high psychological well-being report feeling capable, happy , well-supported, and satisfied with life. Psychological well-being is characterized by positive relationships, self-acceptance, a sense of purpose, personal growth, autonomy, and competence.

It is linked to better health, greater happiness, and a longer lifespan. Fortunately, it's something you can improve by finding meaning, fostering optimism, and cultivating social support.

In this article, learn more about some of the ways you can boost your own psychological well-being. One popular model describes psychological well-being as being made up of six key components:.

According to this perspective, psychological well-being is more than just feeling good, finding pleasure, and being happy—although those are obviously important, too! Instead, it takes what is known as a eudaimonic perspective, which stresses the importance of things like personal growth, purpose, meaning, and self-realization.

Psychological well-being is considered a core aspect of mental health. People with higher psychological well-being are more likely to:. For instance, research has found that people with high psychological well-being are less likely to engage in criminal activity or abuse drugs and alcohol.

In addition, positive psychological well-being tends to predict higher earnings and more prosocial behavior , such as volunteering. People also are more likely to enjoy positive psychological well-being when they have their basic needs met.

Living in a safe area, having enough food, and having adequate shelter are all important factors for emotional health. Here's an overview of some of the key things you can do to improve your overall sense of well-being. Living a life with meaning and purpose is key to improving your psychological well-being.

Instead, you might make it your purpose to be kind every day. Or, your purpose might involve making the world better by encouraging others to take care of the environment or adopt pets from the shelter. Maybe your purpose is to be an advocate for those who are hurting, like bullied students, the homeless, or victims of abuse.

You can find purpose in many ways and build a life that has more meaning. Begin by thinking about the legacy you would like to leave behind. Then, establish some objectives that can help you reach those goals. Working toward your goals will give you a reason to get out of bed every day, beyond earning money.

Thinking positively also improves your psychological well-being. In turn, as your psychological well-being improves, it becomes easier to think positively and feel good overall. Fortunately, you can begin creating that positive cycle with a few simple strategies:.

Take a few minutes and write down all the good things that could happen to you in the future. Imagine how you could be spending your time and who you would be spending it with if you were living your best life. You also may want to devise a plan on how you can make that happen.

Make small, measurable goals that will help you achieve that better future. Then, put a plan into place. When you're working toward a better future—even if the steps are really small—it gives you a sense of purpose and something to look forward to. Spend time thinking about some of the best memories of your life.

Whether it's a family vacation you went on 10 years ago or an award you won at work two years ago, recalling the happiest times in your life can bring more positivity to your mindset. Recognizing the good things that have happened to you over time—the people you have built memories with or the good times that you have experienced—is an important part of improving your well-being.

They serve as reminders of the fullness life has to offer, especially when circumstances may be pulling you down. Doing nice things for other people reminds you that you have the power to make a difference in the world.

Giving to others also helps you think more positively and feel happier. Helping a neighbor in need, volunteering for a community activity, or raising money for a charity are just a few simple ways to improve your psychological well-being. Also, look for ways to be kind to others in your everyday life.

Doing so benefits you in several ways. In fact, researchers indicate that individual acts of kindness releases both endorphins and oxytocin —the feel good hormones—as well as creates new neural connections. Consequently, kindness can become a self-reinforcing habit that takes less and less effort to perform.

There's also some evidence linking kindness and healing. So, look for ways to be kind to others and your body and mind will thank you. Mindfulness , which means staying in the moment, has been linked to a multitude of benefits, ranging from increased happiness to better resilience. Although mindfulness is a skill that takes practice and dedication, over time you can get better at learning how to be present and in the moment.

Doing so has a number of benefits too. Laughter helps reduce anxiety. Go off the grid. Leave your smart phone at home for a day and disconnect from constant emails, alerts, and other interruptions. Spend time doing something fun with someone face-to-face. Dance around while you do your housework.

Not only will you get chores done, but dancing reduces levels of cortisol the stress hormone , and increases endorphins the body's "feel-good" chemicals. Go ahead and yawn. Studies suggest that yawning helps cool the brain and improves alertness and mental efficiency.

Relax in a warm bath once a week. Try adding Epsom salts to soothe aches and pains and help boost magnesium levels, which can be depleted by stress. Has something been bothering you? Let it all out…on paper. Writing about upsetting experiences can reduce symptoms of depression.

Spend some time with a furry friend. Time with animals lowers the stress hormone - cortisol, and boosts oxytocin - which stimulates feelings of happiness. And when you bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen. Practice mindfulness by staying "in the present.

Be a tourist in your own town. Often times people only explore attractions on trips, but you may be surprised what cool things are in your own backyard. Try prepping your lunches or picking out your clothes for the work week. You'll save some time in the mornings and have a sense of control about the week ahead.

Work some omega-3 fatty acids into your diet —they are linked to decreased rates of depression and schizophrenia among their many benefits.

Relax in a warm bath once a week. Try adding Epsom salts to soothe aches and pains and help boost magnesium levels, which can be depleted by stress.

Has something been bothering you? Let it all out…on paper. Writing about upsetting experiences can reduce symptoms of depression. Spend some time with a furry friend. Time with animals lowers the stress hormone - cortisol, and boosts oxytocin - which stimulates feelings of happiness.

And when you bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen. Practice mindfulness by staying "in the present. Be a tourist in your own town. Often times people only explore attractions on trips, but you may be surprised what cool things are in your own backyard.

Try prepping your lunches or picking out your clothes for the work week. You'll save some time in the mornings and have a sense of control about the week ahead. Work some omega-3 fatty acids into your diet —they are linked to decreased rates of depression and schizophrenia among their many benefits.

Fish oil supplements work, but eating your omega-3s in foods like wild salmon, flaxseeds or walnuts also helps build healthy gut bacteria.

Practice forgiveness - even if it's just forgiving that person who cut you off during your commute. People who forgive have better mental health and report being more satisfied with their lives. Try to find the silver lining in something kind of cruddy that happened recently.

Feeling stressed? It may not be the easiest thing to do, but smiling can help to lower your heart rate and calm you down. Send a thank you note - not for a material item, but to let someone know why you appreciate them.

Written expressions of gratitude are linked to increased happiness. Catching yourself thinking this way, then changing the internal dialogue, can help you prioritize growth over perfection, according to Hafeez.

Often we are much harsher towards ourselves than others. In the study, those who practiced self-compassion following a test failure were more likely to study more before a follow-up test, ultimately leading to an increased likelihood of passing the test. Getting active on a regular basis even just taking a minute walk most days of the week can have positive effects on self-esteem.

Almost any habit that boosts self-care and overall health can positively impact self-esteem. In fact, a study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine in found a clear link between sleep duration, sleep quality, optimism, and self-esteem.

Participants who regularly got seven to eight hours of high-quality sleep were more optimistic and had higher levels of self-esteem than those who got less than six hours or more than nine hours of sleep each night.

Personal development that gives you confidence in your abilities, whether at home, work, or in your relationships, can boost your self-esteem. This promotes feelings of accomplishment, satisfaction, and positive self-regard, she says. One study, published in Current Gerontology and Geriatric Research in , found that older adults who participated in a hour computer and technology course were more likely to experience greater self-confidence and improvements in self-esteem related to the skill.

Likewise, another study published in in Frontiers in Neuroscience found that older adults who dedicated time to learning a foreign language experienced a range of benefits, including improved self-esteem, cognitive functioning, and greater opportunities for social interaction.

It may sound like a no-brainer, but doing things that make you feel good are going to help you feel good about yourself, Raja explains.

Self-esteem is impacted by the situations and experiences you face throughout your life, particularly in the family and cultural environment in which you were raised.

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Research shows a link between an upbeat mental state and physical signs of good health. These include lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease, and a healthier weight.

People who have good emotional health can still have problems. Mental illness often has an emotional and physical cause. There could be a chemical imbalance in your brain. Stress and problems with family, work, or school can trigger mental illness or make it worse.

Counseling, support groups, and medicines can help people who have emotional problems or mental illness. If you have an ongoing emotional problem, talk to your doctor right away.

They can help you find the right type of treatment. National Institutes of Health: Emotional Wellness Toolkit. Last Updated: June 1, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

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Path to improved health Emotional health allows you to work productively and cope with the stresses of everyday life. There are many ways to improve or maintain good emotional health: Be aware of your emotions and reactions.

Notice what in your life makes you sad, frustrated, or angry. Try to address or change those things.