Wellness

October 10th is World Mental Health Day

older-coupleOctober is a busy month for health and wellness. It is most commonly known for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Massage Therapy Week. However this month we also celebrate World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2013. It was first recognized as a global holiday in 1992 in order to raise awareness and advocacy for global mental health education. In some countries, it is part of the larger Mental Illness Awareness Week. The 2013 World Mental Health Day theme is “Mental Health and Older Adults”. Although the theme might be focused on mental health in older adults, I want to focus on staying proactive with mental health and how massage therapy can help. continue reading »

Next Month is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

pink-ribbon-octoberIn a few weeks, we’ll be seeing a lot of pink. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month declared by the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Over 30 years ago, Nancy Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to find a cure for breast cancer and raise awareness. Since then, breast cancer awareness has grown and National Breast Cancer Awareness month was born. In honor of this upcoming month, here is some information about the benefits of massage therapy for breast cancer. continue reading »

September 25th is National Women’s Health and Fitness Day

workoutWednesday, September 25, 2013 marks the 12th annual National Women’s Health and Fitness Day. Women have the tendency to neglect their own needs for the needs of others. However, this can be dangerous if you choose to neglect your health and fitness. The mission of National Women’s Health and Fitness day is to inform and encourage women to take care of their health. Local organizations across the nation will be holding events for an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 women to learn the facts they need to make smarter health decisions. continue reading »

Adding the Benefits of Aromatherapy to Your Life

aromatherapyAromatherapy is becoming widely popular as an alternative treatment for infections, stress, and other health problems. You can find many lotions, candles, and beauty products that are sold as “aromatherapy”. Most of these products actually contains synthetic fragrances and don’t have the same properties as essential oils.

Aromatherapy is natural, non-invasive use of essential oils for physiological, psychological, and spiritual healing. Essentials oils are concentrated extracts taken from the roots, leaves, seeds, or blossoms of plants.  During an aromatherapy session, you may inhale the essential oils from a cloth (pillow and sheets), steam inhalations, vaporizers, or sprays. You can experience aromatherapy topically by applying diluted essentials oils during a massage.  Aromatherapy massage has been a popular way of incorporating essential oils in your life because it allows for your body to absorb the oils and breathe them in. All while enjoying the physical and emotional benefits of massage therapy. continue reading »

Are You Suffering From Compassion Fatigue?

tiredHave you been feeling emotionally drained lately? Well it’s more common than you think. It’s called “compassion fatigue”. Compassion defined is the sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.  Compassion fatigue is extreme tension and preoccupation of suffering from helping people in distress. The “helper” absorbs the emotional pain from another and suffers from it as well.

Those who are typically in a “helping” profession are the most vulnerable to compassion fatigue, but anyone can have it if they are exposed to enough traumas. This includes nurses, doctors, counselors, social workers, emergency response workers, and caregivers. These workers struggle to function in care giving environments that face emotional challenges and trauma on a daily basis. The emotional impact of hearing stories involving abuse and other traumas can be transmitted through deep psychological processes with empathy.

Compassion can be confused with attachment, our own personal investment in the outcome of the situation. It’s important to distinguish if compassionate to the needs of another person or personal emotional needs that might be affecting you.

Unlike burnout, caused from everyday work stress and dissatisfaction with our employment situation, compassion fatigue results from taking on the emotional burden of a patient in agony. It has commonly been compared to a post-traumatic stress disorder, except the stress is a reaction to the trauma of another person. continue reading »