Healthy body, mind and soul?
Written by
dontworrybehappy
12. Nov 2005 12:59 PM
I wonder how many of us actually consider the relationship between a healthy mental state and a healthy body and spiritual state?
We all talk about depression and how to cope, but do we look after ourselves properly in all ways.
I know for myself that when I eat too much junk food I feel physically unwell and very unmotivated.I feel better when I stay on a basically sound and healthy eating plan and use fresh fruit or a low fat/low sugar dessert as a treat if I need one. My adult children both complain of depression after a night out on the town and my daughter seldom drinks now, not for fear of a hangover, but for fear of depression. She does not suffer from depression as such, but knows what I mean because she can relate to that post drinking feeling.
My son has depression/anxiety and is so much better off the alcohol.
Then there is exercise. Since my pain has been worse, I have not been able to swim laps at the pool as I did in the past. I still feel better if I keep up a daily fifteen minute walk.
Spiritual - a tough topic for some as they take this to mean going to church.There are many ways to look after ourselves spiritually and church, meditation and spending time by ourselves to simply think about the good things in life are just a few ways of addressing the issue.
I think I have said enough to pose the general health question, do we look after ourselves in body, mind and soul?
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Good question
Written by
MissJ
13. Nov 2006 01:33 PM
Hi there,
This question is good, and one worth really thinking about.
Unfortunately, when I am feeling good I can motivate myself to look after myself inside and out, but when the blue tinge creeps into my day, I let things go a bit. Silly, because that is when I obviously need it most.
This is something I have been trying to address lately. If you are interested a book called High Life 24/7 by Matt Church looks at our body chemistry and ways we can learn to balance things out with food and excersise. I find a low GI Diet helps my swinging moods, and foods with high tryptophan are helpful for calm hapieness.
Excersise helps me to cope too - I have recently joined the gym. Motivation is a problem for me though. I can feel myself getting fitter and stronger with each session, and I try to recite a mantra while I work out. "Today is a changing day in my life. All decisions I make from this point on will benefit me. The sun will shine on me from now." Some times this works and I feel wonderful and powerful, other times I feel exhausted and demotivated very quickly.
Spiritually - here is a tough one we all overlook. I am not religious, but that of course, does not mean I don't need to nurture myself spiritually. And for those of us who do follow a religion, the act of going to church does not necessarily mean (although it is enogh for some) that we are nurturing ourselves spiritually. My biggest problem is the question "Am I WORTH nurturing?" and my gut reaction which I am working hard on changing is "No." I am not sure why- bring on this hypnosis thing I am starting on Wednesday! Need to get to the bottom of my screwy subconscious!
Routine is important for me - that sense of control. That sense that when I am panicing and the world is spinning away from me I have a list I can keep plodding through and as long as I stick to that, I'll find my feet. I am trhowing around a few ideas in my head atm to see how I can improve on that in my day to day life, as I tend to be well in control at work but not a home.
I think I have remabled enough here.
Congrats to anyone who got to the bottom of this!! It helped me to write it anyway!
Cheers,
Jo
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