Total Health Work

A  recent study reported by MSNBC suggested that women who are sad or suffer from mild depression have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.

The research also suggested that the longer a patient suffers with feeling of sadness or being depressed, the stronger the relationship with breast cancer becomes.  The research is published in the journals Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health.

The risk of breast cancer is increased by as much as 12% for women who wrestle with depression.  Another study found that these women are more than two and a half times more likely to develop breast cancer than those who are not depressed.

These findings are extremely disturbing.  One problem is that the news itself is depressing.  It seems like the unhappy souls that are afflicted with this are trapped in a vicious cycle.

One idea might be to be more proactive in taking steps to overcome depression.  Much easier to say than accomplish, I’m sure, but definitely worth a try.  Especially for the loved ones who care about these women.

Two resources I’ve seen recently are the world laughter tour, an online resource that focuses on the power of laughter to improve our health; and emotion release, a new resource for learning how to overcome mild depression and feelings of sadness.

The threat of breast cancer is a constant enemy lurking in the shadows of many women’s lives.  The fact that depression can be a contributing factor is even more unsettling.

So take what steps you can to change your mood (or help someone you love to change theirs).  The long-term effects of their unhappiness can take a bigger toll on their health than we realize.

Stay Healthy.

When thinking about what "total health" means, you need to consider not only your physical health, but your mental and spiritual health as well.  There is a natural tendency in our culture to focus exclusively on physical health, but our life as a whole is much richer and more complex than the just the material world.

Many health-enhancing practices incorporate all three areas of our existence.  Yoga, for example, not only targets the body, but has benefits for our minds and our spirits as well.

When considering your health, think about the whole package.  Try to find a balance of the physical, mental and spiritual elements of your life and dedicate some time and energy to focusing on each one. Nutrition, exercise, play, getting enough rest, meditation, etc.  All of these are important and have benefits toward your total health.  Do a little of each every day.

Stay healthy.

The New York Times reported recently that several studies on the mental and emotional health of people struggling with depression indicate that much of their unhappiness may be caused by perfectionism.  While they acknowledge that wanting to be good at something is usually a positive trait, when this desire is taken to an extreme it can lead to a number of mental and emotional problems.

Ironically, many of these people are PROUD of being a perfectionist in spite of the fact that it may be the root cause of their struggle with depression.

Much of their unhappiness, according to researchers, stems from their unrealistic expectations, both for themselves and others around them.  When their standards are not met, it eventually leads to emotional conflict.  This, in turn, leads to a sense of being dissatisfied and unhappy.

With today’s obsession with success and being the "best" at everything, it’s no wonder that this is affecting our nation’s health.  Not everyone can be the best at anything all the time (or even most of the time).

It sounds to me that it’s better all around to just chill out.  Learning to go with the flow of things instead of demanding that things always go your way or that you always have to be the best is not just an easier way to live, it’s a healthier way to live.

One source that a lot of people are finding helpful is a book called Changing Your Emotions.  You may want to check it out if you’re one who tends to struggle every now and then with getting rid of negative feelings.

So if you’re unhappy, you may want to ask yourself if it’s just because you’re not getting your way.  If that’s the case, let go of your expectations and allow whatever is happening to just "be." 

You might want to follow the British with their humorous encouragement to "Do you worst."  At least it takes the pressure off. 

In the meantime, be cool and stay healthy.