Cheers to your Mental Health!
Does physical health mean I’m healthy?
Having a healthy lifestyle is all the rage. Everyoneâs looking for the next new diet, the best essential oils, and all the alternatives to dairy and egg (at least thatâs what I look for). When I think about making a change to my lifestyle, I usually think of a physical change. The need to feel stronger, look better, or try harder. One thing I have learned over the course of my short life is the overall importance of my health. However, in recent years I have recognized the need to make changes for both my physical health and my mental health.
My Story
My senior year of college is when I had my first panic attack. It felt foreign, frustrating, and at the end of it I felt discouraged. I had a great life so why did I need to panic? I didnât realize that the panic attacks were the one thing I couldnât control. I was ashamed to talk about my anxiety with other people, knowing I would just get the typical advice to relax and take it easy. The anxiety led me into a bout of depression that I was also ashamed to talk about. I felt isolated, trying to justify how I felt with friends who seemed more normal than me.
Working with Seniors
While working with seniors through skilled nursing and now in placement services, I have seen this theme of anxiety amongst both the seniors I work with and their families. The thought of their lives changing due to a physical decline can produce major anxiety and can isolate the clients/families who are dealing with it. So, where do we go from here?
You are not alone
You may feel alone, but there are more resources than you may realize. I recently went to a Lobby Day in Olympia, WA where many healthcare professionals lobbied for an increase in mental health services, for our community. The organization we lobbied for is called NAMI. I met family members whose sons were experiencing mental illness and social work students eager to learn more about mental health. Check out their website for great resources!
Your health is important to us!
Our job as placement advisors is to consider the WHOLISTIC healing of your loved one. This includes both their physical and mental health. We are connectors and partner with excellent providers and communities that value the mental health of the seniors we work with.
We are continuously learning more about the needs in the community we serve and want to provide the best for you and your loved one.
Cheers to your health! We are here to help.
-Kelly Allen
Placement Advisor