Got Stress?

Well, back from spring break and back to the drawing board we go.  Whereas the idea behind spring break is to give you a break from stress and anxiety, it seems to return just as fast as we return to work or the classroom.  Stress and anxiety seem to come hand in hand and can be a completely vicious cycle.  Whereas when stress arises, anxiety can easily follow just as when anxiety arises, stress seems to be tagging along with it.

So, during these times, what can we do to relieve our stress?  There are many different ways of reducing stress and people try a number of different ways to do so.  Some of the ways that we can relieve stress is by doing breathing exercises, listening to relaxing music, or reading a good book.

Health & Wellness Services provides many therapeutic services (Counseling, Massage, Medical Clinic, and Health Education) that can help reduce stress. Call us to schedule an appointment - 801-957-4268. 

SLCC Sleepy Student Survival Guide 2/4

Slcc Sleepy Student Survival Guide 1/4

Stressed? Immune Booster with Lymphatic Massage

For many students, this time of year - mid-terms - can trigger new stresses.  With new stresses come a new low in our body’s ability to fight sickness and disease.  Help your immune system hit a new high with Lymphatic Massage! 

Our lymphatic system plays an integral part of our immune system.  Lymph is a colorless fluid that carries white blood cells (disease fighters!) to our lymph nodes.  Once there, our lymph nodes help filter out dangerous toxins responsible for infections and disease.  Because the lymphatic system lacks a central pump, lymph flow can be slow going. 

Lymphatic Massage

The best way to encourage lymph flow, and discourage lymph fluid build-up, is through Lymphatic Massage.  Most lymphatic vessels are located just below the skin’s surface, so not a lot of pressure is used in this massage.  The result is a gentle, non-painful type of bodywork that’s suitable for everyone! 

 

Besides strengthening your immune system, check out the other great benefits of Lymphatic Massage:

• Enhance mood and energy level
• Leave you feeling less tired
• Decrease joint pain
• Reduce swelling
• Alleviate sports injuries, colds, allergies, and headaches

Most importantly, any type of massage can help with stress relief and general well being.  Call Health and Wellness today to schedule an appointment! 

 

Self-care

Good self care is the best way to ensure that you stay free of mental and emotional injuries.  This includes taking care of your body as well as paying attention to your own needs and feelings.  Caring for yourself physically can include getting enough rest, learning about and practicing good nutrition, exercising to relieve stress and lift your mood, getting a dose of sunlight every day, limiting alcohol and avoiding cigarettes and other drugs.  Most people need at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night to function optimally and to get the most mental health benefits, aim for 30 minutes or more of exercise per day.

Humans are social creatures with an emotional need for relationships and positive connections to others.  Get out from behind your TV or computer screen because communication is a largely nonverbal experience that requires you to be in direct contact with other people, so don’t neglect your real-world relationships in favor of virtual interaction.  Find a supportive relationship with someone who is a “good listener”—someone you can talk to regularly, preferably face-to-face, who will listen to you without a pre-existing agenda for how you should think or feel. A good listener will listen to the feelings behind your words, and won’t interrupt or judge or criticize you.

Learn about mindfulness.  One aspect of mindfulness  includes being more present by focusing on things that appeal to your senses. Stay calm and energized by appealing to the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Listen to music that lifts your mood, place flowers where you will see and smell them, massage your hands and feet, or sip a warm drink.  If you would like more information or any help implementing these tips into your life please come by SLCC Health and Wellness Services.  Also, check out our Mindfulness Group!

Safety 1st: DYK the 3 B's

For March, we turn our focus to injury prevention.  Before we begin, we must define what we mean by injury prevention.  Injury prevention in being able to make correct choices by using the 3 B’s : BE Alert, BE Aware, and BE Attentive.
BE Alert focuses on the concept of paying attention to what you are doing.  For instance, if your head is down and you are on you cell phone and have your I-pod on, you may not see that on-coming traffic in the parking lot doesn’t see you.  Or that you accidently walk down a flight of stairs while not paying attention.  Not paying attention while playing a sport also falls into this category.  Orthopedic injuries are among the most common types of injuries seen at the clinic.  Being alert is the top way that we can manage injury prevention.
BE Aware focuses on being aware of your surroundings, such as looking across the street both ways before crossing.  Knowing where things are in relation to yourself at all times, and being aware of potential injury with what you are doing are key components.
BE Attentive deals with paying attention to not only what you are doing, but the potential risk involved.  For example, if you are using a knife, be aware that you could cut yourself if you are not careful with it.  Being attentive to what you are doing at all times will reduce the risk of potential injury.
By using the 3 B’s, we can help prevent injury to ourselves and to others as well.  So stay safe out there!

Love Your Body

In February, our thoughts turn to relationships. However, we often ignore that our first and primary relationship is with ourselves.  This month presents a good opportunity to assess how you feel about yourself and your body.  Consider the activities in which you engage and the messages you give yourself.  Do they build you up or tear you down?

Studies show that a majority of women report being unsatisfied or even hating their body or part(s) of their body.  This is also increasingly true of men.  Loving our bodies can be difficult in our celebrity-focused, consumer-driven society (which capitalizes on people feeling negatively about themselves).  In attempts to manage negative self-image, we disconnect from our body. We berate the way we look, punish our body through extreme dieting, and ignore our body’s basic needs.  In essence, we disconnect ourselves from an essential part of human experience.

What would it be like to love your body?  Do not wait until something changes to appreciate your body; love it as it is for what it is now.  Begin caring for yourself as you would care for any other loved one in your life. Rather than constantly dwelling on what your body is not, focus on all the things your body provides you: the abilities you have, the sensations you feel, and the experiences your body provides. Challenge negative judgments by not holding yourself to unrealistic media images.  Reconnect with your body by nourishing it in word and deed.  Give yourself a compliment.  Treat yourself to a massage.  Lose yourself in movement. Loving your body is one major step in cultivating a healthy relationship with yourself.