Holistic Approach to Wellness At Donna Becker, Better Health, I use a holistic approach to wellness, with an emphasis on the importance of addressing the whole person.
Looking at health holistically involves being mindful of the relationship between the whole body and its parts. We are all made up of a complex network of interdependent cells, tissues, organs and body systems, each having its own important job necessary for optimum functioning of the entire body. When one part of our body is under functioning, it will begin to take a toll on the rest of our body, and if not addressed will eventually lead to a chronic health issue.
A holistic approach to wellness must also include an understanding of the effects of mental, emotional and spiritual health. The body, mind and spirit are not independent of one another. They are intertwined. What affects one, affects the others.
The Illness-Wellness Continuum The Illness-Wellness Continuum graphic created by Dr. John Travis illustrates an interesting way to understand the relationship between illness and wellness. On the right is high levels of wellness that include good mental health and mood, restorative sleep, resilience to stress, good digestion, sufficient energy for all that the body needs to do and those things you consider enjoyable.
It is important to be intentional about your health. Where do you think you might fall on this continuum when you think of your own health?
In the middle is the neutral point on the graph where there is no discernable illness or wellness or symptoms. Many people equate good health with a lack of symptoms. This is what we have been taught by the medical community. Here’s the problem with this approach: By the time you have symptoms, there are physical problems on a cellular level, and the medications available to address symptoms rarely focus on getting to the root of the problem. The underlying effects of inflammation, chronic stress, nutrient deficiencies, digestive issues, exposure to toxins, and emotional and physical trauma are likely to still be negatively impacting your cell and organ function even if you are able to relieve your symptoms with medications.
Mind Body Connection The Wellness Continuum graphic also takes into consideration the importance of your mental and emotional wellness. Negative and painful emotions that are not dealt with, will affect your physical health. Our emotions are meant to provide information for us to know how we feel about a person, place or situation. They should help guide our choices in life so we can choose experiences that enhance our wellbeing. The problem occurs when we hold on to, ignore or bury, negative emotions that need to be dealt with. If left unresolved, over time they take their toll on our health.
The results of research conducted over the past 25 years on the effects of trauma has provided us wtih an extreme example of how the health of the mind and body are intermingled. Those affected by trauma, if untreated, often have a heightened stress response, emotional numbing, dissociation from their bodies, and intrusive memories continually replaying the experience of the original trauma. Not only do all of these lingering effects of trauma take a toll on the traumatized person's mental and emotional health, but has shown to increase the chances of debilitating chronic physical conditions and a shortened life expectancy.
Whether we look at mental health through a western lens or the Chinese Medicine’s energetic lens, both would agree that stress and our emotional state has effects on our physical health. In Chinese medicine, there is an understanding of the energetic connections between specific emotions and specific organs, while the western and biochemical view of our health addresses the effects constant stress, perpetual fight-or-flight and excessive worry have on our nervous system, immune system, circulatory system and digestive system. Secondary effects of poor mental and emotional states are equally detrimental in how they affect our health, through their effects on sleep quality, breathing, creating unhealthy food cravings, our relationships and the loss of our social and playful spirits.
Becoming proactive about your health, instead of reactive It is important to be proactive and take steps that you can to be as far to the right as you can. By aiming for optimum wellness, you will be more resilient and better prepared for any circumstance that life throws at you. You will also become more aware of subtle signs when you are not functioning at your best, and can begin to take care of yourself until you get back to the happier, healthier version of yourself that you deserve to be.