Mind, Body, Spirit: What's the Connection?

Vicki Norwood, BSW, spent over 35 years as a Social Worker working with adults with long term behavioral health challenges, in Community mental health settings. She has also worked as a Mental health program administrator. 

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Now that the festivities of the Christmas season are in the rearview mirror, I would like to take a moment and wish each of you a very Happy New Year! This past year has been so full of challenges it’s not difficult to figure out why we looked forward to 2021: a clean slate, a fresh start! 
 
In this new year many of us hope to find some normalcy in family, work, school, and social routines. More importantly, we may also be struggling to deal with the losses we have experienced. So many have lost loved ones and have not been able to gather with family to grieve, or even to have a funeral. Families have lost businesses, or jobs, and are struggling to figure out next steps while managing their financial obligations.

Interpersonal relationships have suffered greatly and many have been isolated from those they love, and struggle with a new level of loneliness, as nursing homes and congregate living facilities struggle to keep their residents well. We have longed for the togetherness we had pre-COVID, of being able to gather in person with family, friends, church, and community. This past year has been incredibly stressful, as people struggle to accomplish all that we must, yet having to be more creative, safe, and distant in the process. The anxiety is real!

So how does all of this affect us, physically, emotionally, and spiritually? I have spent most of my life as a social worker in the mental health field.  I can tell you from my experience, as well as the research, that there is a strong connection between the mind and body. Our mental and physical wellness are very much linked together. Spirituality and our relationship with the Lord are intertwined as well.
 
Although navigating through the challenges COVID creates is difficult, there is hope and some conscious changes we can make that will give us more of the control over our lives that many of us are seeking.
 
As we go forward, I hope you find some of the information contained in the links above helpful in navigating through this difficult time. Cheers to the new year, may it bring us into safer, healthier times where we can return to that sense of community, friendship, and worship we are all missing.