wise words
Emotions Affect Your Physical Health by Minnie Payne
A story is told of a one-pharmacy-small village pharmacist whose wife died of a heart attack on Christmas Eve – he died on Christmas Day. The inseparable couple had no children and there was nothing for him to live for. The shock was too much. Studies show that emotions (good or bad) affect our physical health. The death of a loved one, a disparaging diagnosis of a dread disease, or other devastating sad news is sometimes too much. The more emotional a person is, the easier it is for them to go off the deep end. It is also proven that happy events such as weddings, graduations, job promotions, etc. can boost one’s morale to the point that marvelous, good things happen to them and others. Emotions matter, so guard them. In truth, humans (as well as animals) are sensitive, some more than others, e.g., the soldier who suffers from PTS, the student who worries about grades, or a nation under the leadership of an oppressing dictator. As the saying goes, “Life is made of peaks and valleys.” Some can successfully walk through sad valleys – others can’t. Pastor Bart Lipscomb of Christ Church at League Line Road, Conroe, Texas shares, “Certainly, we have examples in scripture of the difference friends play in our emotional well-being, e.g., Ruth befriended Naomi after she had lost her family. Ruth’s loyalty amid Naomi’s turmoil was the difference between her making or not making it through those times. It doesn’t take a lot of friends, just the right one. Ultimately, it points us to loyal friends. “In God’s wisdom, Ruth being that kind of friend was her salvation, too. It was a two-way street for them.” Dr. Ann Davis relates in her article How our emotions affect our heart health “The heart and the mind are intimately connected. Negative states of mind, including depression, anxiety, loneliness, anger, and chronic stress, may increase the risk for heart disease over time or worsen heart issues that already exist.” February is heart health month, a good time to explore patterns we should follow to help us live healthier/longer lives. Edward-Elmhurst Health shares 7 resolutions that will get you on a healthy track.
7 Hearth Healthy Resolutions t t t t t t t
Get your blood pressure under control. Keep cholesterol in check. Cut your sugar intake. Be active every day. Eat healthier Food Maintain a healthy weight. Stop smoking. A word to the wise is sufficient.
If choosing a therapist is needed to improve emotional or physical health, do diligent research to find a reputable/sensitive one. As with anyone, high morals should be considered. Just as you should choose your friends with caution, you should choose anyone who gives you advice with caution. A good point that, here again, Edward-Elmhurst Health in Think before asking “Where are you from? suggests is for therapists to use caution in asking where someone is from. It can cause all kinds of problems and puts up walls. If someone is from the rural Possum Kingdom and out of shame, says they are from Greenville, it causes all kinds of problems for both the inquirer and the one questioned. Everyone isn’t from a prominent or educated family and in defense, sometimes lies are fabricated. The same can be said when someone has emotional problems. Even though the situation is gradually changing, people with emotional problems are sometimes put into a frowned-upon category. The bottom line is that emotions affect your physical health. And February is a good time to face the facts and do something about it. Talk with a wise friend or your spouse. Above all, don’t hold it in. Minnie Payne is a staff writer for Natural Awakenings Houston and the secretary for our sales team. Minnie enjoys her family, her church and working on something productive.
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