A holistic approach is one that considers all aspects of wellness. By definition, holistic health includes healing the mind, body and soul by using both conventional and alternative sources of treatment.
Its focus on preventative measures is what sets apart the holistic approach from a standard medical approach. Which means, it considers looking after all aspects of wellness before you get sick rather than after you get sick.
The body is a system of different mechanisms, which follow the butterfly effect, which means, a change in one system can lead to disruption in another. This is how a small hint of cancer spreads to the entire body, or how some people who seem perfectly fine end up dying from heart attacks at an early age.
It's true that people are living longer, but the level of stressors that an individual experiences in their life are skyrocketing. In this day and age where the pace of life is faster than ever, it is important to slow down and pay attention to your body, and the systems that help function it.
The holistic approach to wellness provides exactly this, it helps you consider the 5 most important areas of life and pushes you towards bettering them, so you can eventually improve the functioning of your body as a whole and achieve real, long lasting, health.
Physical health is what most people think of, when they think of health. This is due to the fact that the physical body is often the one to show signs or symptoms of suboptimal health. These signs are also easier to track and measure, versus other non-physical signs like depression or anxiety which usually include more abstract symptoms To maintain physical health it is essential to include daily physical exercise in your routine even if it's just a 30 min walk. Inculcating nutrients in your diet and making sure you get 8 hours of quality sleep is also necessary.
Mental health often overlaps with both emotional and physical health. However, the key distinction between mental and emotional health is that while our emotional health refers to our daily mood and emotions, mental health refers to cognitive abilities that affect how our brain functions.
Ways to improve your mental health do coincide with activities that help you improve your physical; health, ie exercise, proper nutrition, improving your gut health etc.
We are social animals. Forming groups and through them deep connections with others is something that is inherently human. Psychology suggests that the reason why people need people is to share their experiences and feelings and feel less alone.
This clearly depicts how important it is to maintain social health as the lack thereof can have adverse effects on our holistic health. Some ways you can improve your social health is getting more involved in your community and participating in cultural festivals.
Emotional health entails your feelings, although often overlooked, they directly influence your actions and your life. It's necessary to pay attention to your emotions because they affect your physical health too. It's essentially energy in motion that travels through the cells in your body.
You can take care of your emotional health by talking to a trusted individual or even a therapist when you're struggling. Noting down your thoughts in your journal can also be a great way to relieve whatever tension you're feeling. It's advisable to do this before bed.
Spirituality is different from religion but can often overlap with it. Developing your spiritual health can look like forming a deeper connection with your inner world, discovering your purpose and starting a journey towards healing. You can work in this area through cultivating certain non-negotiable rituals that you practice for obtaining peace and calm.
At SAMA Health, the Holistic approach to wellness is what we master in. Through our varied selection of wellness services that work primarily in a holistic manner, we make sure that when we treat your illness we treat you as a whole, not as the sum of your parts. (link programs)
Written By
Preventive Health and Wellness Specialist
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