Health & Wellness

INTIMACY

HOW CAN YOU AND YOUR SWEETIE DEEPEN THE BOND?

BY ABRIL GREEN

We know sex is this complicated, multi-tiered subject and deserves to be dissected before indulging straight in. So, when it comes to dating, like, actually getting to know someone, do we want to complicate that even the more by adding sex to it? While intercourse is a highly tempting thing, there are other ways to express and share intimacy, especially while dating.

Emotional Intimacy: Learning someone and their mind; falling in love with their personality and listening to their innermost thoughts can create an undeniable closeness. The goal, when we are dating, is learning someone. Simply having conversations about life, things we love/dislike, what makes us happy/sad, the joys and pains of our childhood, can open doors to honesty and build bridges of trust needed for the relationship to advance. In dating, this can look like going out for ice cream and sharing personal experiences; discussing our passions and things we advocate for. This can heighten our interest in someone and draw us closer to them.

Experiential Intimacy: Experiences! What better way to grow connected to someone than through experiences? Sure, a nice dinner is great as a first date, but what about an experience? Have you ever taken a walk along the beach as a first date? Maybe a bike ride? Had a homemade picnic in the park? These aren’t our typical first dates but can make great first experiences and leave lasting first impressions. Having someone to cook for you, instead of going out to dinner is experiential intimacy. And this is reciprocated both ways: It’s doing something for someone that they’ve never had, and it’s doing something you’ve never done.

Physical Intimacy: This is not to be mistaken for sexual intimacy. The difference is there’s no sex involved. Physical intimacy is our hugs and kisses and holding hands. Once we learn to like someone good enough through emotional intimacy, we become comfortable enough with them to be physical. Holding hands can actually be a stress reliever. It decreases the level of cortisol, which is a stress hormone and releases oxytocin which is the hormone that strengthens empathy and communication. Being comfortable and relaxed around people can open doors of honesty and strengthen communication.

Spiritual Intimacy: For a lot of people, being equally-yoked is important. This simply means sharing the same faith and being a believer in a higher power. Through this form of intimacy, you are allowed to share your beliefs and morals in regard to how you perceive life and its obstacles. It’s being able to worship together and pray for each other.

These intimacies are extremely important forms to navigate through when dating. It covers everything and leaves nothing left to the imagination. Unlike sex, it isn’t temporary. When invested in properly, these can win successfully for your dating experiences.

Abril Green (Edwards) is an author, spoken word artist and motivational speaker.

UNDO THE WEIGHT

If you’ve gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic, you aren’t alone. The “Quarantine 15 —weight gain some folks have experienced since stay-at-home guidelines went into effect—is most likely due to the disruption in your daily routine.

“People’s habits have changed quite a bit since we’re spending more time at home,” said Donald Hensrud, M.D., the medical director of the Healthy Living Program at Mayo Clinic, which has a presence in Jacksonville. “Those changes in habits can lead to health and medical issues down the road,” he said. His suggestion? Find new habits.

• Craft Healthier Versions of Old Favorites. Instead of giving in to large amounts of comfort food, this can be an opportunity to eat foods we may not think of as healthy. Make burritos, bean burritos or even pizza.

If you make it in the correct way, it can be a healthy food. • Invest Some Time. Planning is key. If you plan ahead rather than just grabbing something at the last moment, you’re more likely to eat healthier meals. • Raise Your Culinary Skills. Cook more. You can make healthier versions than the ones restaurants deliver. • Squeeze in Activity. Even if it’s only 10-minute bursts of exercise, find ways to incorporate movement into your day. Teleworking? Walk around your living room while on conference calls. Play tag with your family in the backyard after dinner. Do a squat challenge while you binge watch your favorite show.

“Eating healthy and eating well don’t have to be drudgery. It can and should be an enjoyable way to live,” Hensrud said. “If we can do that, we can better manage our weight and our overall health during this pandemic.”

And drop that quarantine 15 before it tries to hang around all summer. 196849195 –BlackHealthMatters.com

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

From May through July, national organizations will shine a spotlight on mental health. According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black adults in the United States are more likely than White adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness, hopelessness and feeling like everything is an effort. Black adults living below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those with more financial security. Despite the needs, only one in three Black adults who need mental health care receive it. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Mental Health Facts for African Americans guide, they are also less likely to receive guideline-consistent care, less frequently included in research, more likely to use emergency rooms or primary care (rather than mental health specialists).

Research shows that these barriers can escalate the issue: Socioeconomic Disparities

Socioeconomic factors can make treatment options less available. In 2018, 11.5% of Black adults in the U.S. had no form of health insurance. The Black community, like other communities of color, are more likely to experience exclusion from health, educational, social and economic resources. These disparities may contribute to worse mental health outcomes.

Stigma

One study showed that 63% of Black people believe that a mental health condition is a sign of personal weakness. As a result, people may experience shame about having a mental illness and worry that they may be discriminated against due to their condition.

Provider Bias and Inequality of Care

Provider bias, both conscious and unconscious, and a lack of cultural competency can result in misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. This ultimately can lead to mistrust of mental health professionals and create a barrier for many to engage in treatment. Black people may also be more likely to identify and describe physical symptoms related to mental health problems. For example, they may describe bodily aches and pains when talking about depression. A health care provider who is not culturally competent might not recognize these as symptoms of a mental health condition. Additionally, Black men are more likely to receive a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia when expressing symptoms related to mood disorders or PTSD.

While the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) recommends seeking help from a mental health professional, a primary care professional is also a great place to start. Community and faith organizations may also have a list of available mental health providers in your area. If finances are preventing you from finding help, contact a local health or mental health clinic or your local government to see what services you qualify for. You can find contact information online at findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling the National Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357). –NAMI

SAMPLE QUESTIONS TO ASK PROSPECTIVE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER

• Have you treated other Black people or received training in cultural competence for Black mental health? If not, how do you plan to provide me with culturally sensitive, patientcentered care? • How do you see our cultural backgrounds influencing our communication and my treatment? • Do you use a different approach in your treatment when working with patients from different cultural backgrounds? • What is your current understanding of differences in health outcomes for Black patients? • Did my provider communicate effectively with me? • Is my provider willing to integrate my beliefs, practices, identity and cultural background into my treatment plan? • Did I feel like I was treated with respect and dignity? • Do I feel like my provider understands and relates well with me?