Expressions of love are good for your mental health

As much as Valentine’s Day is regarded in romantic fashion, the attention given to it could be good for your mental health.

Social-economic factors are largely to blame for mental health issues in women. Sangeetha Madhavan, a Professor of African American Studies and Sociology at the University of Maryland suggests that economically disadvantaged women are likely to enjoy the benefits of marriage and cohabitation because of the legal protection that marriage provides.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, in addition to social and economic factors that place women at a greater risk of poor mental health, natural cycles of a woman's lifetime, such as pregnancy and menopause, may influence women to internalise difficult emotions, leading to depression or even self-harm.

“How motherhood affects a woman’s mental health depends on the quality of the relationship with the partner,” says Professor Madhavan.

Expressions of love are not a solution to mental health issues. However, being in a bad relationship can trigger mental health issues or worsen them if they already existed.

But while being in love is good for mental health, it is not the cure for any mental condition. Most people regard Valentine’s as a day of public display of affection for our loved ones.

It is important to note expressions of love, especially in a stable and healthy physical relationship, can influence adaptability to stick with healthy lifestyle choices.

Healthy choices mean going easy on guilty pleasures such as chocolate and red wine, as experts do not recommend them for your heart's health.

It also means that you set helpful expectations rather than creating a false ideal in your love life. If you are single, ignore societal pressure and indulge in self-care instead.

Have you ever heard of spouses who die within a short time of each other? Since love is the greatest and most complex human emotion, losing someone you love can result in profound sorrow that negatively affects your physical and mental health.

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy - temporary enlargement of the heart resulting in weakening of the heart muscle - is largely to blame when grief causes malfunctioning of the heart.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, hormones produced during a stressful event can stun the heart, causing a temporary decrease in blood flows into the heart. Broken heart syndrome is potentially life-threatening due to heart rhythm abnormalities, shock, low blood pressure and congestive heart failure.

It is encouraging that the condition is reversible, with the heart attaining full recovery within a couple of days or weeks.