Our emotional well-being has powerful effects on our overall health.
Mental and emotional stress can translate into adverse physical reactions, a weakened immune system, and poor health. Let’s use October (and any other time of the year) as an opportunity to take charge of our mental health, find the soothing activities that work for us, and, most of all, take care of ourselves! In the below article, we have provided some ideas for your emotional health toolkit.
Glennon Doyle’s pod We Can Do Hard Things recently featured a two-part interview with Dr. Hillary McBride titled “How People Are Using Psychedelics to Help Their Relationships.” We recommend listening to both parts, but part two includes a thrilling conversation about psychedelics — and how folks use them to enhance their relationships and lives. Dr. McBride helps us understand the importance of seeing our partners – and letting ourselves be seen – without any defenses, how combining therapy with psychedelics is assisting us to stay close to our feelings, why the first step toward healing is feeling safe in our body; and an important question for us all: why is being here so hard?
“Emotional wellness” refers to our ability to process feelings in a healthy, positive way and manage the stress of everyday life. If you feel stressed or overwhelmed, try a soothing activity like meditation or yoga to slow down and clear your mind. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a Salveo fave! This technique involves tensing and relaxing different muscle groups. Meditations incorporating PMR help manage anxiety by increasing your awareness of physical sensations and moving your attention away from mental activity.
The concept of mindfulness is simple. This ancient practice is about being completely aware of what’s happening in the present. It means not living your life on “autopilot.” Becoming a more mindful person requires commitment and practice. One of our go-to’s is this guided, mindful coloring book for anxiety-burdened adults designed to help you release stress and find peace.
Weighted blankets are a popular bedding accessory for many people because the extra weight can help make people feel calmer while they rest. The blankets are fantastic for recharging your body and mind during sleep. They’re essentially a bio-hack that mimics how you feel when embraced by someone else. The full body pressure provided by the blanket helps suppress the action of the sympathetic nervous system (the part of the nervous system that is responsible for the stress response).
In today’s fast-paced world, good nutrition is hard to find. We often grab whatever’s fast and convenient, and this low-quality food limits our incredible mind and body potential! We can achieve so much more when our bodies and minds are optimally nourished. Ka’Chava is for our gut, brain, muscles, skin, hair, and heart, all of which nourish our minds and enhance our mood. We love this whole health powder because it has all the essential nutrients sourced from nature in one delicious superblend.
RESOURCES + TOOLS
- Mental Health America has developed a questionnaire to determine the degree of stress you are experiencing – Take The Test
- New York Post’s “World Mental Health Day: 7 tips to keep your mental health in check” by Brooke Steinberg – Read Here
- The Women’s Mental Health Podcast is a space dedicated to nurturing important conversations around mental wellness – Listen Here