“Health is a state of complete mental, social and physical well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
World Health Organization, 1948
World Mental Health Day
Since 2013, every year on October 10th, we celebrate World Mental Health Day, first established by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the United Nations Healthy Workforce, this day aims “to raise awareness about mental health around the world and to mobilize efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues.”
This year’s theme, “Make Mental Health for All a Global Priority,” was introduced by The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). And at Positive Recovery, we believe that mental health matters. We believe in shifting our focus to positive outcomes, embracing the good in all things, and finding healthy ways to express our thoughts and feelings.
One of the most important things to remember about Mental Health is that it is health. Just like working out at the gym or taking your dog out for a walk to move your body and strengthen your muscles, incorporating daily practices to strengthen your mental health is equally as important. Sometimes, though, we tend to forget to take care of ourselves, especially when challenges arise. When feeling stressed out or anxious about an upcoming event, it’s easy to grab the bottle to try and forget. But it’s in those moments of adversity that our health – mind, body, and spirit – is more important than ever.
Having strong discipline, such as focusing on your breathing when feeling anxious, journaling your thoughts and emotions when feeling stressed out, or even establishing set times to speak with a therapist to help you overcome tougher challenges can help you find healthy alternatives to cope with any obstacles that may come your way.
When we focus on whole health, we not only strengthen our physical health but our mental and emotional health as well. One of our previous guests on Positive Recovery MD shared his thoughts on embodying whole health through helping individuals with addiction recovery.
Bridging the Gap Between Mental Health and Behavioral Health
Recently on Positive Recovery MD, Dr. Jason Powers was joined by George Youngblood, LCDC, ADCIII, CCS. George is the Chief Executive Officer at Teen and Family Services and the founding Board Chairman of the Association of Alternative Peer Groups. He has been successfully counseling adolescents and families for over twenty years and will celebrate 30 years of uninterrupted sobriety.
During their conversation, Dr. Powers and George Youngblood shared the importance of community and why it’s essential for Long-Term Recovery. They also discussed how to build relationships through shared experiences and how our past survivor mechanisms can become our Future Strengths. One of the biggest takeaways from their conversation was focusing on “Whole Health” by integrating mental health care with physical health care.
According to George, when he first started his recovery journey 30 years ago, there was a strong polarity between the “recovery community” and the “mental health community,” as well as the stigma behind treating mental health disorders. However, throughout recent years, he has seen a major shift in integrating mental healthcare with behavioral healthcare. Now, we recognize the deeper, underlying issues behind substance use.
Holistic Healing
For many individuals, seeking drugs or alcohol isn’t the problem but a byproduct of unresolved pain and trauma. Due to various traumas, such as growing up in an abusive home or living with an abusive partner, it can be easy to try and numb the pain with unhealthy coping mechanisms. While we have since learned that simply taking away drugs or alcohol doesn’t magically cure mental illnesses, it does help us find the cause of the deeper-rooted issues and allow us to fully heal from them. When we recognize the underlying issue and understand the bigger picture, we can find the right resources to help us along the way.
When we focus on a holistic approach by incorporating healthy practices for our mind, body, and spirit, we are able to heal old wounds, strengthen our relationships, and embark on a deeper, richer, and more meaningful journey.
3 Ways to Incorporate Holistic Health
Looking for ways to embody whole health? While there are a variety of ways of incorporating a holistic lifestyle, it can sometimes feel daunting to try out too many new things at once. If you want to embark on a holistic journey but are unsure of where to start, here are a few practices to slowly integrate into your daily life.
- Focus on Your Physical Wellness
Physical wellness can mean a few different things. Getting enough sleep, moving your body, drinking enough water, taking necessary medication, and even eating whole foods. Try starting out by focusing on one new physical activity. If you notice you haven’t been getting enough sleep, try incorporating a nighttime routine an hour before bed. If you find yourself forgetting to take your medication, set a daily reminder on your phone or invest in a countdown prescription bottle. The important thing to remember is that it is a journey and not something that happens overnight. Simply try 1-2 things to start out with and go from there.
- Develop a Spiritual Practice
When it comes to spirituality, we all have our own sacred meaning. Whether it’s a prayer journal, a yoga session, or practicing mindfulness, simply connecting on a spiritual level can help alleviate stress and calm any anxious thoughts. No matter, if it’s simple breathing exercises throughout the day or allotting a specific time every week to simply be present, finding time to rest helps us focus on what’s most important. The beautiful thing about spirituality is that it’s specific to our needs and can be done alone or in a group setting.
- Invest in a Local Community
While it’s important to take a few moments for yourself throughout the day, it’s equally important to invest in a local community. Addiction thrives in isolation, but when we have people in our lives we can trust and commune with, our entire outlook on life changes. Whether it’s reconnecting with a childhood friend, checking out a local organization or support group, or even spending quality time with family strengthens our relationships and improves our overall well-being.
In Need of Care?
Are you or a loved one in need of addiction treatment care but unsure where to begin or what type of treatment is needed? We are happy to assist you every step of the way. We invite you to call us at (877) 697-1383 to learn more about our 14 locations from Houston to Austin’s Hill Country and our full continuum of care ranging from Detox through Aftercare. Together, we can THRIVE in recovery.