Holistic Health: Mind, Body and Spirit


Holistic Health: Mind, Body and Spirit



Mental health recovery isn’t only about popping pills because medication can only do so much. Working for DMH, I learned about the Holistic approach to mental health. Holistic health is about the mind, body and spirit and how we nurture things elements of ourselves striving for a healthier life and getting to that point of feeling as if we have conquered the battle and the battle has not conquered us. This means that we need to have to learn coping skills that allow our minds to perceive the world is a new positive light. We can learn coping skills by talking to our mental health professionals, psychiatrist, therapist, case worker and attending support groups. There are even online support groups like MD Junction and there you will find a network of mental health peers that will become friends during your journey, together you will uplift each other. We need to seek knowledge. Read, research and even read some uplifting blogs

            We also need to nourish our bodies, exercise and eat healthy. This one has always been a struggle for me because I tend to over eat and have always used food as a coping mechanism. Thus the words comfort food or emotional eater. The medication increases my appetite and I find that I am always hungry. Currently, I have tried to have healthy oatmeal and yogurt shakes that are aiding me in lowering my cholesterol. I stock up on fruits and veggies and sock my home with healthy food because there was a point where my roommate would stock the house with pop tarts and I would eat them in the middle of the night. As far as exercise, we need to exercise. That is a given. I actually like to exercise. I have tried boxing, power walking, yoga and swimming. Due to the fact that I have scoliosis, it has been difficult to exercise without pain. I had to give up boxing and boxing was my favorite sport. I was in excellent shape when I was boxing. I would go to the gym twice a day and do 500 jabs. Now that I am limited to what I can do, I have found power walking is a great exercise. I go out for nice walks around my neighborhood with my mom. That is one of my favorite parts of recovery. Find a walking buddy if not go alone and as you go for a stroll think about all the wonderful positive changes you want to make in your life. Ponder positive thoughts and energy. Negative energy be gone! Positive energy welcome!

            Now we have come to spirit. This is what I have mastered over the years. I know that I have a beautiful spirit. I meditate, do breathing exercises and pray. Now, let me tell you one thing, feeding our spirit doesn’t mean you have to be part of a particular religion. There is a difference between spirituality and religion. Spirituality is more about the inner soul and religion is more about a higher power and organized practice. I am both spiritual and religious. This is what has worked for me.                                                                                            If somebody hurts you or brings pain into your life, even something catastrophic happens that hinders your recovery than stop for a minute and say, Yes I can!  Fight off their negative energy with positive energy and if it is a problem- just know this; some things are out of our control. However, although it is out of our control the one thing we can control is how we cope with our thoughts, feelings and emotions. We can’t control people’s negative actions and behaviors. It’s like trying to control an earthquake or natural disaster. We can control how we cope.


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