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A NEW TAKE ON LIFE
We are born with social attachment points through how our parents try and mold us in childhood. Seeking a hit of certain neurotransmitters, children look for approval from their parents & will try to correlate their actions with positive responses. As adolescents, we replace parents with peers – oxytocin is released as a result of social belonging or validation.
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Financial Wellness
Money may be a little more on everyone’s minds this month with Tax Day right in the middle of April. Just like the need to eat and sleep, money is a piece of our everyday lives that plays a role in our overall wellness. Wellness is more than just physical health – it is multi-dimensional including physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, social, occupational, and financial health. Each area is interdependent and influenced by the others. When one area is out of balance or not working well, the other areas are affected, and all are vital for optimal health and well-being.
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A New Take on Life | April Showers Bring May Flowers
Mindfulness: I keep hearing this word both from my clients and on social media posts. When I think about mindfulness, I am reminded that within the span of a few minutes our human brains can have a dozen different thoughts which will cause all sorts of different emotions all at once. Depending on the type of thought, if we do not take them captive (2 Cor. 10:5) they can quickly spiral out of control and take us down paths that are not productive or healthy. Mindfulness means that we can maintain a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, body sensations and surroundings, through a gentle nurturing lens.
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“Let thy food be thy medicine.” (Hippocrates)
National Nutrition Month is celebrated this month to bring awareness to the importance of making informed food choices and developing healthful eating and physical activity habits. In our everyday world we are overrun by messages surrounding diet, weight loss, and ideals of how our bodies should or shouldn’t look, which foods are good/bad/or even super, and what our relationship with food should be. All these complicated messages can leave us feeling confused, guilty, and ashamed of ourselves, our will power, and our bodies. Food and our relationship to it doesn’t have to be this complicated. Discovering all of the ways food can and does fuel and nourish our bodies can lead to a healthier perspective and relationship with food and fuel our future healthy selves.
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Kiss me, I’m Sober!
Why do we drink on St. Patrick’s Day? Saint Patrick was born in the fifth century in Roman Britain. When he was 16 he was captured and brought to Ireland, where he was enslaved for six year. Eventually, he escaped back to Britain, where he became a priest and years later, he went back to Ireland and brought Christianity to the region with him. He passed away on March 17th , 461, and Voila!, the date became St. Patrick’s Day. Legend says that Saint Patrick liked to have a drink from time to time- but funnily enough, that’s not the reason people drink on this holiday. Instead, it’s because the celebration falls in the middle of Lent, a 40-day period when Christians focus on charity, fasting, and prayer. Lent’s restrictions are suspended for St. Patrick’s Day, so people have historically eaten (and drank) to their heart’s content to celebrate the holiday.
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Navigating Mental Health Coverage: Understanding Insurance Basics
Understanding insurance can be a challenging task, especially for patients who are already dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety. However, it is essential to have a good understanding of how insurance works to make the most of your mental health benefits and receive the treatment you need. In this post we will talk…
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Practicing Gratitude in Recovery
With Thanksgiving this month, I wanted to focus on what it means to be grateful, to have an “attitude of gratitude”, and how that can help us in our recovery- whether from drugs, alcohol, or from mental health issues. Being grateful for where you are in this very moment means stopping right where you are and saying thank you; it means recognizing the good things in your life instead of focusing on the negative. Read more on how and why gratitude can help you in recovery.
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Health Benefits of Daily Gratitude | Wellness Connections
Making gratitude a daily practice can help to increase your happiness and have positive effects on your health. Gratitude is being aware of and thankful for things in your life whether past/present/future, material or relational. Sometimes gratitude is a spontaneous feeling and sometimes it requires being intentional. Choosing to be grateful has many health benefits including increased happiness, decreased stress, improved physical health and sleep, and improved relationships. Choose gratitude everyday and you will see improvements in mind, body, and soul.
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ADHD Nutrition | Wellness Connections
October is ADHD Awareness Month! Research shows a direct connection between food & brain function. Diet isn’t a cure all for ADHD & doesn’t cause ADHD, but proper nutrition can improve symptoms of ADHD including hyperactivity, concentration, and impulsivity. 8 guidelines to support children & adults with ADD/AHDH.
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10 Ways to Save Money at the Grocery Store
With inflation on the rise check out these tips to help you save money at the grocery store and still eat healthy. Also, learn how to make each morning great with these 8 must do things, and why breakfast is so important. – From our Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist.
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