EMOTIONAL health generally refers to feelings and moods... you may feel sad, happy, worried, excited, frustrated, and fulfilled all in the same day. Like physical wellbeing, emotional (psychological) health is more than the absence of problems or illness.

We know that to succeed in the world, we must have inner discipline and a sense of control in our lives. This doesn’t mean that we can accomplish what we set out to do or that we don’t suffer disappointments and losses along the way.

Emotional healthy individuals are in touch or control in their feelings and can acknowledge and express them. Among the characteristics of emotionally healthy persons are the following:

• Determination and effort to be healthy.

• Flexibility and adaptability to a variety of circumstances.

• Development of a sense of meaning in and affirmation of life.

• An understanding that the self is not the center of the universe.

• Compassion to others.

• The ability to be unselfish in serving or relating to others.

• Increased depth and satisfaction in intimate relationships.

• A sense of control over the mind and the body that enables the person to make health-enhancing choices and decisions.

Ways to improve your emotional health

If you are trying to gain control over your emotions and your life, take advantage of the resources around you. It helps to sit down quietly and sort out the stresses in your life that are disturbing you. Don’t blame others for your problems. Instead, take a good look at your responses to daily events and see how you can make adjustments that might make a substantial difference in your life. Cultivate some strategies that will help you get through your life with fewer complications and frustrations. Above all, after reviewing your issues, communicate clearly with the important people in your life.

Here are some suggestions to prevent the stresses and strains of everyday life from adversely affecting your emotional health:

• Have a physical check-up. Often what appears to be an emotional disorder is actually a result of a physical problem. For example, if you are chronically tired and depressed, you may be suffering from a thyroid disorder. It’s always best to rule-out other existing medical condition first.

• Exercise regularly. Your physical well-being is the basic foundation of your mental and emotional health. Physical exercise helps lower the level of your cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood and stimulates the production of endorphins, a morphine-like chemical that helps to counteract feelings of anxiety and depression. Many women also find that exercise can help alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Regular exercise also will help you be more relaxed during the day and sleep better at night.

• Eat the right foods. Take plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, high-fiber diet, low-fat meat and fish. But it is also important to avoid foods that have a strong effect on your moods and can disrupt the body’s smooth functioning. Caffeine in coffee, tea, soft drinks and chocolates, for example, is a stimulant that produces anxiety and interferes with sleep. And, of course, avoid too much sweets, salty foods, greasy and oily foods, smoking, drugs and excessive use of alcohol.

• Take control of your life. It is our attitudes and response to the events and goals in life that determine our life story. Use your losses as a means of enriching your life experience and as a learning opportunity. Sometimes changing some aspect of your life, although difficult, may be the best path toward a positive mental and emotional outlook.

• Keep busy, but not too busy. Certainly one of the ways to avoid depression is to keep active. Many people find that when they are engrossed in their work, they tend to be happier. It is important to work, plan for the future, and set goals, but it’s vital to enjoy life’s pleasure, too.

• Take time to relax. Relaxation -- whether through meditation, yoga, or other forms of recreations -- is another tool you have to control your state of emotional well-being.

• Become socially involved. A balanced life is one that incorporates personal and social activities equally. Friends can help in times of mental and physical distress. Trying to figure out all of your problems alone may be a fruitless task because in isolation you can lose perceptive.