Holistic Health

Sophie Matthews, MHC

What is Holistic Health? 
Holistic health means learning to integrate physical, emotional, mental, relational, and spiritual components of health, as each domain affects the other. Approaching mental health by isolating these areas and tending only to one or a few of them is incomplete and insufficient for a balanced and vivacious life. As a complex, living system, each facet of you contributes to your well-being; they are the nuts and bolts that hold you together. When you take care to journal, have coffee with a friend, take a brisk walk and eat your vegetables, the benefits of each activity compound one another. When you forget to eat, neglect your friendships, and stop moving your body, it’s no wonder that you feel less energized, less inspired, and less whole.   

Physical factors
When it comes to physical health, a lot of people underestimate the power of lifestyle habits like getting quality sleep, adequate nutrition, and exercise. Sleep is essential for your brain to purge its toxins, for your muscles to regenerate, and for memory to consolidate. Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, can seriously impede your focus, disrupt your mood and biological rhythms. Furthermore, research demonstrates that exercise can result in neuronal growth, improved mood, and reduced risk of disease. Exercise is one of the most effective antidepressants that we know of (though severely depressed people often require more support). Other lifestyle habits that zap your energy and vitality include alcohol consumption, excessive junk food (too many fats and sugars), and inactivity. These ideas are not new but they are tried and true. 

Mental/Emotional factors
Moving onto mental and emotional health, the realms of cognition- thoughts, and feelings, which are often intertwined. Sometimes we have trouble managing our self-defeating thoughts and overwhelming feelings, which can snowball into more persistent mood disorders. It is important to begin building awareness of your thought patterns and to make room to feel your feelings. It may be helpful for you to create your own list of self-care activities or things you can do to soothe yourself in the midst of strong feelings. You may also give therapy a go and speak to someone who can hold space for your inner exploration. You may also try journaling to externalize the business of your mind, relieve yourself of emotional anguish and proceed mindfully by putting pen to paper.

Social factors 
As relational creatures, we were designed for connection; we long to be seen, known, heard, understood, and validated. We crave belonging and acceptance, to give and receive love. Science tells us that loneliness is associated with susceptibility to illness and even earlier mortality, whilst social support is correlated with resilience, longevity, and well-being. Relationships are the bedrock from which we grow and become fully ourselves. 

Spiritual factors 
Lastly, psyche in Greek means soul; we are human beings with minds, souls, and inner spirits. Spirituality is defined as a felt sense of connection with the divine, whether it is experienced as Oneness, a relationship with a higher power, or a transcendent other (people or elements of nature). This is dissociable from religion or adherence to family tradition; personal devotion describes something quite distinct, though it may sometimes overlap with organized faith. Human beings yearn to belong to something greater than themselves and to have a sense of purpose in life. When you are tapped into spirituality as a resource, the peace, creativity, wisdom, and freedom you experience spill over into other aspects of your life. Perhaps you feel closest to God when you watch a sunset, meditate, pray, or practice yoga. Perhaps you need to feel the earth on your feet and the sunlight on your skin. When you are grounded in your spirit, it acts as an organizing principle for everything else you experience, offering meaning and clarity on this earthly plane until we make it home. 

Wishing you wholeness, 
Sophie

References:
Miller, L. (2016). The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving. Picador.