HEALTH + WELLNESS
THE DIMENSIONS OF
WELLNESS + MENTAL HEALTH BY NIQUE BELLEVILLE, MA, LPCC, RYT (SHE/HER)
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ellness is defined as the act of practicing habits daily to acquire healthier physical and mental outcomes. When COVID-19 became a household burden, humans across the globe survived. But did we thrive? As a mental health therapist and a human, I encouraged my clients to create a routine including the eight dimensions of wellness. These dimensions include the following: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, occupational, environmental, spiritual, and financial.
THE 8 DIMENSIONS OF WELLNESS:
• Physical • Emotional • Intellectual • Social
• Occupational • Environmental • Spiritual • Financial
When out of balance, we tend to feel “wonky,” a ton of emotions all put into one, explaining why we do not feel grounded. Each of these dimensions can release those
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happy chemicals into our brains (Serotonin, Oxytocin, Endorphins, & Dopamine).
Physical Wellness Not only limited to moving your body, the dimension of physical wellness can include sleep and fueling your body with nutrients in foods. When moving your body with exercise, including yoga, biking, running, walking your pet (cats included), playing Pokemon Go by walking, or walking your favorite path next to your favorite lake, your body will release those happy chemicals into your brain. Movement not only affects your muscles, but also your mental health. Moving your body might seem as if it will be exhausting, but when done consistently, you FEEL the rewards. You sleep better, your digestive system applauds you, and you become less reactive to things than before.
Emotional Wellness The dimension of emotional wellness is not JUST going to therapy. Emotional wellness means learning to cope with life’s stressors and anxieties. Life is a big, long
science experiment. We learn by trial and error. There will ALWAYS be anxiety and stress. Seeking an outside, non-judgmental, perspective to help guide you is an option. Finding the right therapist can be a process. I have gone through it, as I am a therapist who sees a therapist. Think and know your
All eight dimensions link to our mental health. If one of them is off, we feel WONKY. This is my encouragement from one human to another human to create intentions in each dimension to explore different activities helping you feel grounded, empowered, supported, and satisfied. MNYOGALIFE.COM
