How to leverage for better health

In golf, a small shift in the angle of the swing, will lead to a much bigger difference in the distance at the end point. A small shift at the core, will lead to a bigger shift on the surface. 

So in counseling, we try to fix the problem at the core rather on the surface. Behind the curtain rather than what’s in front of the curtain. It’s more efficient and effective that way.

Imagine if we can shift these 3 core beliefs for people.

1. From “I am not good enough” to “I am enough because I am who I am. I am not perfect but I will learn and grow throughout my life.”

2. From “toxic shame” and “I am not lovable” to ”I am lovable or likable”.

3. From “It will never change” to “Things can change in any given moment”.

What would the world look like then? 

Will we be healthier physically, emotional, and socially?

Stress is often a sign of unmet NEEDS

When we are showing excessive “fight or flight” responses with our friends, colleagues, and loved ones, it’s often a sign of stress. 

When we dig deeper, it’s usually a sign of NEEDs not met.

Like a plant without enough water, nutrients, and sunlight, it will show signs of stress and failure to thrive.

What needs are often not met?

1. Is it the “bio” physiological needs eg food, water, nutrition, sleep etc. Rate out of 10.

2. Is it the need for safety, security, and control? Rate out of 10.

3. Is it the need for connection? Rate out of 10.

4. Is it the need for newness, growth, and novelty? Rate out of 10.

The answers may guide us.

If the plant needs water. Give it water. If the plant need nutrients, give it nutrients. If the plant needs sunlight, give it sunlight. In that respect, we are not that much different.

Find what we need and try to fulfill that. Don’t be confused by our “fight or fight” responses, and blame the very thing in front of us or ourselves. It may not be the main problem at all.

It’s often a sign that our NEEDs are fundamentally not met.

If it’s “bio”, address that.
If it’s a lack of security and control, address that.
If it’s the lack of connection, address that.
If it’s a lack of newness, growth, and novelty, address that.

For good health, we must look at biopsychosocial

As a Family Doctor, I often like to get my patients to rate their current bio-psycho-social health out of 10.

1 Bio/physical health out of 10

2 Psycho/emotional health out of 10

3 Social/connection with their tribe out of 10

Then we can get them to reflect on a great time in their life, and rate the bio-psycho-social out of 10 during that time.

We then set out to close the gap.

For our health to be optimal, all of our bio-psycho-social health have to be optimal, because each domain impacts one another. 

How do you rate with the above in mind?

How to use leverage to better your physical, emotional, social and relational health

Everyday we use leverage to assist us with our lives.  We use leverage to help with our finance.  We use leverage to help us with mechanics such as gears in our bikes and cars.  We use leverage in our machineries to build our homes and cities.  But do we use the same leverage to improve our health?  What does leverage look like when we apply it to our healthcare? 

We will explore that in this video.

Health is biopsychosocial but what does that even mean?

Our physical health, mental health, and social/relational health are very much interrelated.  One affects the other.  Poor physical health may lead to poor mental health, which then may lead to poor social/relational health, which then may lead to poor mental and physical health.  Be careful of this vicious cycle.  Watch this video for further tips....

Diabetes and Depression...What is the significance of this?

I was reading an article in my Medical Journal today and this article highlighted a recent US study that showed that people who have diabetes and depression have a higher chance of a heart attack than those without either condition.  It was probably not too difficult to predict this finding as depression affects us in multiple ways, including our motivation, eating habits, relationships, immune health, compliance with treatment, internal body regulation, and our own lifestyle in general, which then can adversely affect our coexisting chronic health issue.

This highlights to us that in order for our health to be managed well, we need to address our physical health, our mind health, and our relationship health altogether.  This is what we, as Family Physicians refer to as the biopsychosocial approach to healthcare.