ON MY MIND...The Pillars of Wellness

We can sometimes spend so much time running from doctor to doctor, getting treatments, managing medications, getting evaluated, applying for services, that we get so focused on what is wrong and forget about the basics. We spend so much time trying to fix and not enough on maintaining and moving forward. Whatever the particular challenges you are facing, you can achieve a noticeable improvement in your overall well being by engaging in those behavioral activities that maintain physical and cognitive health:

• Maintain a healthy diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals, which have been known to assist brain function.
•  If not otherwise contraindicated, participation in daily activity and exercise, given the multiple physical and mental health benefits of exercise.
• Engage in mental activities to challenge yourself cognitively and stimulate brain activity (i.e. social interaction, reading aloud, jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles or Sudoku, computer games, etc.). Social interaction is the best brain exercise there is!!
• Sleep – 8 hours per night.

You are of course encouraged to work closely with your healthcare providers for continued monitoring of medical conditions. But is wise to remember that you have a great deal of control over how you feel – be proactive - take charge of your wellness.