Health and Wellness

Health and wellness are related to your overall physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When your body, mind, and emotions are balanced, the ability to engage in daily activities, pursue goals, and interact with others is increased. It is not uncommon for individuals who struggle with physical issues such as substance abuse, body image concerns, or mental illness to struggle to meet the typical demands of the day. It is easy for many people to neglect basic self care… the cost can be quite high when the choice is made to put basic physical, mental, and emotional needs on the backburner. Maintaining adequate levels of health and wellness involves gaining the awareness, knowledge, and motivation to make meaningful changes in daily living. For some people, this might mean attending to basic nutrition needs or proper sleep hygiene. For others, optimal health and wellness involves seeking help for a substance abuse issue from friends, family, and mental health professionals. For those struggling with mental illness, maintaining health and wellness typically involves seeking the services of a psychiatrist, psychologist, or counselor and adhering to their individual treatment plan. Depending on the particular mental health issue, following treatment guidelines may involve psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, or another intervention recommended by your provider.

The application of mindfulness to your overall health and wellness involves attending to the cues provided by your mind, intuition, and emotional experience. When you observe and accept your overall well-being with an attitude of mindfulness, it can become easier to identify what aspect of your life is out of balance. When you become mindfully attuned to potential imbalances between physical, mental, and emotional wellness, you are naturally better equipped to make informed decisions about how to take action to stabilize your health and wellness.