Family history contributes to emotional health vs mental health through a slight impairment in an individual’s cognitive ability, and an increased risk of a psychiatric disorder. Therefore, a person’s home environment plays a crucial role in overall emotional and mental well-being.

Studies have indicated that brain chemistry plays a huge role in the overall development of anxiety and depression. Lower levels of neurotransmitters can cause symptoms such as feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, sadness, and emptiness.

Whether the sexual or physical abuse is emotional or verbal, it can have long-term effects on an individual’s overall mental health. Trauma can affect how a person sees themself and how well they relate to others. When women experience trauma, they have a higher risk of developing a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Trauma can occur after an individual experiences events that hurt them emotionally or physically. Therefore, creating lasting effects on a person’s physical, emotional, and mental health. When trauma occurs, a person is at greater risk of developing the following:

• Borderline personality disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• The misuse of drugs/alcohol
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression

The long-term effects of trauma or abuse can include the following:

• Severe stress, anxiety, or fear
• Abuse of drugs or alcohol
• Eating disorders
• Depression
• Self-injury
• Suicide

Poverty that occurs during childhood or adulthood can cause poor mental health through stigma, trauma, and social stresses. Likewise, the impoverishment of loss of underemployment, employment, or the fragmentation of social relationships can become a vicious cycle. The vicious cycle can become even more complex as individuals with mental health problems can move in and out of poverty, and live perilous lives.

Many people may not understand the connection between depression and nutrition. However, more individuals understand the connection between physical illness and nutritional deficiencies. Nutrition can play a major role in the onset, severity, and duration of depression.

There are several easily noticeable food patterns that can precede depression and even occur during depression. This can include skipping meals, a dominant desire for sweet foods, and a poor appetite. Nutrition is intertwined with a human’s behavior, emotions, and cognition.

There are several common risk factors that contribute to the connection between mental disorders and substance abuse. As stated previously, both can occur in families. Furthermore, environmental factors such as trauma or stress can create genetic changes that are passed down through generations.

From there, it can contribute to the development of substance use or mental health disorder. Similarly, studies have discovered that individuals with mental disorders might engage in alcohol and drug use as a form of self-medication. Even though drugs have the ability to make individuals feel better, it’s only temporary and it tends to worsen the overall problem.

In addition, brain changes in individuals with mental disorders can enhance the rewarding effects of substances. Substance use can trigger several changes in brain function and structure that can make a person more likely to develop a mental health disorder.