1. Explain how mindfulness or meditation has fostered an increase in your psychological or spiritual wellness. How can you continue to apply these practices in your life to foster greater health and wellness?
Although I found the mindfulness exercise for unit 7 difficult, I believe that these exercises have fostered an awareness for me that I didn't realize. Purposely taking the time to focus on what is going on in my mind and body is something that I do not ordinarily do. Since starting this the one of the main things that I have realized is how tense my body is. I react to stress whether it is good or bad with body tension. Since I have had a lot of problems with my back, shoulders, neck and legs this year it was an important discovery for me. Now that I realize I am doing this I do relaxation techniques several times during the day.
2. Describe the saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself� (P.477) How does this apply to the health and wellness professional? Do you have an obligation to your clients to be developing your health psychologically, physically, and spiritually? Why or why not? How can you implement psychological and spiritual growth in your personal life?
These questions remind me of my daughter's journey with juvenile diabetes. I remember the look on her face as a child listening to an adult telling her she needed to face the fact that she would need to give herself shots for the rest of her life and it would make her life easier if she learned to do it herself. Well, that adult did not have diabetes, was not eight years old and when they were the biggest problem they most likely had was not worrying about keeping their blood sugars in good control so that they could stay out of the hospital. Many of these adults would use scare tactics, like telling her she would lose her legs, feet or go blind. Their bedside treatments actually caused her to have further problems with depression, anxiety, stress which lead to further problems controlling her blood sugars. Many of the professionals she saw just did not have appropriate training in the care of children with chronic illnesses. How could they help my daughter or our family if they did not know themselves? I believe that we do have an obligation to our clients to treat them holistically if we really care about the patient and the care we are providing. It is difficult to find individuals who really care about aspects other than the physical in any field.
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteHow fantastic that you learned about the tension in your body through these exercises! I hope you have also learned some relaxation techniques that will help you to relax and not hold so much tension in your body. Hopefully you will be feeling the difference soon if you haven't already!
The story about your daughter breaks my heart! How old is she now? Is she controlling her diabetes well? Hearing stories like this makes me wonder how many of those doctors that you came into contact with were in that field simply for the money. Its a shame to say it but I think that is why so many doctors don't have that level of compassion and understanding that we would like for them to have (especially with our children). Sure, it's important as a professional to understand the science behind the healing. It is equally important to understand how medical problems and conditions can affect the client and know how to deal with them on a personal level.
~Lindsay S
Hi Mary. Outstanding post! It's great to hear that you are improving your health with the help of this class!
ReplyDeleteYour and your daughter's experience sounds horrendous. I'm so sorry you both had to go through such mistreatment by medical professionals. It's an unfortunate but common occurence. I'm sure that you are teaching her to be strong through your example and that will help her live with her illness. I completely agree with you that these professionals should have more experience working with children before being put in a setting in which they will have such an impact on them and their treatment.
Great job, momma.
Britt
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteGreat post, it is great that you were able to analyze what made your body so tense and how you can change that by using the relaxation technique. Many people like to give orders and say well you should try it because it is good for you however all of that is easier said than done. They don't realize that many people have never had an issue and that all of this is new to them. It would be helpful to the patient if the doctor explained to her why she needed to do this rather than scaring her as well as helping you understand what needed to be done.
Heidi Fuentes
Mary, this was a touching story about your daughter. Sometimes people really upset me when they try to tell you about something that they have not experienced themselves. I think it was cruel for them to try and use scare tactics because it led to more problems for her. I hope that she is doing well and may you and your family be blessed.
ReplyDeleteMary,
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your post very well. Thankfully, you are able to do some relaxation techniques that can help not only your sore tense muscles but, you can start a new journey of self realization.
My nephew was diagnosised with Diabetes about 6 to 7 years ago. That would have put him around the same age as your daughter when diagnosised. His internal organs were starting to shut down and his parents thought that he had a really bad case of the flu, until they realized that his legs were turning purple. They immediately took him to a well known Childrens Hospital and he was diagnoised a few days later. My husband and I kept our neices, (his siblings) and tried to comfort them the best we could. They asked lots of questions and I told them that it was not contagious but, everyone would have to make a few diet changes. I think that they should have a mentoring program for young children that are recently diagnosised with Juvenile Diabetes. They could pair a young child with an older more experienced teen that knows how to regulate their blood sugar. If the older teen shows them the ropes and makes comments like don't worry this is going to take time, I remember, it will become easier for the little ones to be able to handle this life changing event from someone who really has been there. That way scare tactics aren't used and they also have someone to rely on that has been through the same thing. This of course would be monitored by a medical team. I think it took my nephew a good year before he had evened out. He now has a pump of insulin that he imputs straight into his stomach and this has worked so much better for him. I wish you the best of luck, and her much success.
Thank you for sharing Mary! How awesome it is to be in tune with your body. It's interesting because we just tend to go about our day with pain and tension and we are so used to it we don't even feel it anymore. That's great to hear that you are aware of the feelings and are taking the necessary steps to help yourself.
ReplyDeleteYour second post regarding your daughter just breaks my heart and it is a story that is all to familiar. Sure doctors have the knowledge but that just gives you a heartless diagnosis. The best practitioners are the ones who chose their practice based on a personal past experience.
Thanks for sharing!
Eileen