Humans are naturally creatures of habit. When we build habits, we learn that we can depend on specific outcomes for our actions. These habits, both healthy and unhealthy, impact our routines, mindset, and relationships. This idea is the basis of behavioral health -- a field in psychology focused on what we do, how we do it, and how it affects our daily life.
Behavioral Health’s Place in Psychology
Simply put, behavioral health describes how a person’s behaviors impact their mental health, wellness, relationships, and decisions. The field of psychology views it as a framework to understand and treat conditions such as addiction, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other behavioral-related disorders.
Behaviors can be healthy or unhealthy. When we think of overall wellness, some healthy behaviors include sleeping eight hours each night, getting at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each day, and brushing your teeth twice a day. These behaviors clearly lead to positive outcomes.
However, when we practice unhealthy behaviors, we find the opposite impact on wellness. Some unhealthy behaviors include regularly using harmful substances and drugs, exposing yourself to toxic relationships, and shopping impulsively. These behaviors, often practiced as habits or addictions, may lead to negative outcomes like stress, anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, and difficulty focusing or being mindful. Because of the potential for harmful behaviors to manifest in individual’s lives, healthcare systems and mental health services designate behavioral health as the prime treatment area.
Mental health, on the other hand, is a component of behavioral health. Mental health describes an individual’s internal world, including emotions, beliefs, thought patterns, and memories. It’s important to see behavioral health and mental health both as necessary parts of treatment. We can attempt to change behaviors, but without exploring the origins of these behaviors or addressing the individual’s internal system, we may not be successful. Interestingly, mental health conditions such as depression or PTSD have many behavioral symptoms. It’s often difficult to determine which comes first, leading to a chicken-and-the-egg situation.
Behavioral Health and Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are a clear example of the interaction between a person’s mental health and their behaviors. When an individual has an eating disorder, the disorder controls eating behaviors, which may either originate or result in low mental health. Behavioral aspects of an eating disorder include excessive or restrictive eating, compensating for eating by over-exercising, and isolating from others to hide eating behaviors. Because eating disorders are a mental health disorder that involve behavioral modification, many eating disorder treatment options involve behavioral components in partnership with emotional processing and psychotherapy approaches.
Behavioral Health and Addiction
The same is true for individuals who suffer from addiction and substance abuse disorders. When harmfully using substances, behavioral modification is an essential part of treatment. However, an experienced mental health professional will work with the individual to identify the internal and external impacts of the disorder. This work is done through treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
In the end, behavioral health is an important framework in treatment. It emphasizes the strength of the partnership between behaviors and mental health. Finding a mental health professional who specializes in approaching both aspects becomes crucial in feeling more comfortable in daily life.
Discover the possibility of living a meaningful life. Discover the possibility of recovery. Reach out to Dr. Benaaz Russell, PsyD, CEDS, today to schedule an appointment!