Let’s Keep Moving Toward Wellness

It is so important to be able to speak openly, being grateful for openness and to reach out for help regarding our own health and well-being. This week, let’s think about what may be standing in the way of physical health. As nurses, we know physical health is connected to mental health and vice versa. Low energy, pulling away from usual activities or inability to focus on usual activities may result from poor mental health (MentalHealth.gov, 2019). Here are some things to consider:

1. Is someone in your life affected by alcohol or drugs or some form of mental health challenge?
2. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your own drinking? Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking? Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (eye-opener)? (Johns Hopkins Medicine, n.d.).
3. What about drug use?
4. Not sure how to get started? Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers national, free help available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
5. What about Alcoholics Anonymous? There are anonymous fellowships for drug abuse, too (Narcotics Anonymous World Service, 2019).
6. What about SMART programs? This lesser-known program facilitates behavioral changes and addiction help for individuals and those affected (Alcohol Rehab Guide, 2019).
7. Al-Anon (Al-Anon Family Groups, n.d.) or Nar-Anon (https://www.nar-anon.org/) are support for those whose lives are affected by another’s drinking or drugging.
8. Whatever is keeping you from optimal physical health may be tied to your mental health. Like nurses, help is available 24/7!

Let’s keep moving towards optimal physical and mental health!

Sincerely,

Mary Ellen Levine, MSN/Ed RN CHPN and the Healthy Nurse, Healthy New Jersey Team

P.S. The Healthy Nurse Healthy New Jersey (HNHNJ) team is going to give a Healthy Nurse $50 towards a “walk” or “run” of her/his choice. You will have a chance of winning by writing to healthynurse@njsna.org, letting the HNHNJ team know how you incorporate our Healthy Nurse messages into moving more.

References

Al-anon Family Groups. (n.d.). Who are Al-anon members? Retrieved from https://al-anon.org/

Alcohol Rehab Guide. (2019). SMART recovery. Retrieved from https://www.alcoholrehabguide.org/support/smart-recovery/

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). CAGE substance abuse screening tool. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns_hopkins_healthcare/downloads/all_plans/CAGE%20Substance%20Screening%20Tool.pdf

MentalHealth.gov. (2019). What is mental health? Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health

Narcotics Anonymous World Service. (2019). Welcome to www.NA.org. Retrieved from https://www.na.org/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2019). Find treatment. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline