Category: Co-Occurring Disorders

What is wellness?

Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth one step and or one door at a time.

What does wellness mean to you?

Maintaining an optimal level of wellness is absolutely crucial to live a higher quality life. Wellness matters because everything we do and every emotion we feel relates to our well-being. In turn, our well-being directly affects our actions and emotions. It’s an ongoing circle. Therefore, it is important for everyone to achieve optimal wellness in order to subdue stress, reduce the risk of illness and ensure positive interactions.-According to the Student Health and Counseling Services

Strategies for wellness:

There are believed to be eight dimensions of wellness according to SAMHSA   Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration that include:

1. Emotional—Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships
2. Environmental—Good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being
3. Financial—Satisfaction with current and future financial situations
4. Intellectual—Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills
5. Occupational—Personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s work
6. Physical—Recognizing the need for physical activity, healthy foods, and sleep
7. Social—Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system
8. Spiritual—Expanding a sense of purpose and meaning in life

While all  eight dimensions of wellness need our attention for us to truly flourish, there doesn’t have to be a balance among all dimensions. Instead, the goal is to find a personal harmony with the dimensions that are most authentic for you.  You can’t get there passively, it requires active awareness, acceptance, and commitment through choices you make every day no matter how small.-According to the University of Maryland Health Center

Did you know that:

Halbert L. Dunn, M.D. (1896–1975) was the leading figure in establishing a national vital statistics system in the United States and is known as the “father of the wellness movement”
-According to Wikipedia

The Evolution of Wellness:

Although Dr Dunn, is known as the father of the wellness movement. The evolution of wellness has been around for a long time.

No matter how one looks at wellness, it is important to note that there are four important elements  of wellness and they are:

• Physical
• Mental
• Emotional
• Spiritual

More Education:

Education is the key to unlocking the doors of change  to moving forward in wellness in-order for the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual elements to be in harmony. 

 

DID YOU THAT…
The National Institute for Mental Health,
released an article concerning depression and other disorders at their website: www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression

Major depressive disorder can be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. Depression can change or distort the way you see yourself, your life, and those around you. True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for weeks or longer. Depression can change or distort the way you see yourself, your life, and those around you.

The exact cause of depression is not known. Many researchers believe it is caused by chemical changes in the brain. This may be due to a problem with your genes, or it can be triggered by certain stressful events. More likely, it’s a combination of both. Some types of depression run in families, but depression can also occur if you have no family history of the illness. Anyone can develop depression—even kids—or even alcohol or drug abuse can play a role in depression.

Certain medical conditions that include underactive thyroid, cancer, or long-term pain, or even some medications such as steroids can cause depression.

Sleeping problems or stressful life events such as breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, failing a class, or the death or illness of someone close to you are also strong factors in causing depression. People who have been divorced, have suffered childhood abuse or neglect, have lost their jobs, or face social isolation (common in the elderly) are more at risk for developing depression. People who suffer from depression usually see everything with a more negative attitude. They cannot imagine that any problem or situation can be solved in a positive way.

Symptoms of depression can include agitation, restlessness, and irritability. A person can be withdrawn or isolated and have difficulty concentrating or may notice a dramatic change in appetite, often resulting in weight gain or loss. People can experience fatigue and lack of energy, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness as well as feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and guilt.

In my own depression journey, I lost interest or pleasure in activities that I once enjoyed. I suffered thoughts of death or suicide, and experienced trouble sleeping or slept too much. Reading and realizing I experienced these symptoms of depression was a wake-up call. It is important for people to understand that depression can also appear as anger and discouragement rather than feelings of sadness that most people associate depression with.

If depression is very severe, there may also be psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. In these cases or if an individual with depression is suicidal or extremely depressed and cannot function, they may need to be treated in a psychiatric hospital. People who are depressed are more likely to use alcohol or illegal substances. Complications of depression also include increased risk of health problems, such as suicide.

 A person who has thoughts of hurting themselves or committing suicide should call a doctor right away. Other symptoms including hearing voices that are not there or having frequent crying spells with little or no reason that is disrupting work, school, or family life should warrant an immediate trip to the doctor.

 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

If you — or someone you know — need help, please call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you are outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of international resources.