Activity Assignment

Activity Assignment

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B8f-s_Cu66u_SG55Z3ptX29rWkk

Debra Powell

Eng. 111

Professor Brandon

10/04/2012

Personal Wellness Review

I would highly recommend my peers sit in on the Personal Wellness class given by

Professor Shutt.

I think personal wellness teaches you many different things, but tended to focus strongly on stress, like how do you know if you are stressed and what to do to help reduce it.

In personal wellness you will initially learn about something called the wellness wheel. The well ness wheel consists of sections, those being emotional, intellectual, and physical, and social/cultural, environmental, financial, spiritual and occupational, which are all linked together in one way or another.

You learn that healthy living is important but is a challenge, because it's a choice you have to make, be it good or bad, and you sometimes have to make sacrifices to achieve goals. A prime example of this would be if you wanted to exercise more, not many people really want to do it, but you have to decide that it's time and just do it, even if that means less time on the computer or watching television.  Wellness is a habit, and you have to decide to do it.

There are many signs of stress, and listed below is a chart showing some of the many things to look out for that can indicate too much stress for an individual. Everyone has normal daily stress, but I did learn that if you have more than four or five of these at the same time, it is time to step back and take a good look at your life and lifestyle.  Stress, untreated, can be linked to physical problems such as strokes and heart attacks, as emotional problems such as severe depression.   It has also been shown that severe changes in sleeping patterns are associated with psychological problems.

Stress Warning Signs and Symptoms

            Cognitive Symptoms                                     Emotional Symptoms

Memory problems                                            Moodiness

Inability to concentrate                                     Irritability or short temper                                                                                                       Poor judgment                                                 Agitation, inability to relax                                                                                                                                             Seeing only the negative                                  Feeling overwhelmed

Anxious or racing thoughts                              Sense of loneliness and isolation

Constant worrying

Physical Symptoms                                           Behavioral Symptoms

 Aches and pains                                                 Eating more or less

Diarrhea or constipation                                     Sleeping too much or too little

Nausea                                                              Isolating yourself from others

Dizziness                                                           Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities                      Chest pain, rapid heartbeat                                 Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax

Loss of sex drive                                               Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)     

Frequent colds                                     

I found that some of the ways to help reduce stress are: exercise because it releases endorphin, spend time with people that are physically, mentally & emotionally healthy, they are a great support system.  Deep breathing exercises, walking, visualization of a "happy place", and spirituality, are more, but the list goes on.  The most important is to seek professional help if it becomes too much to handle, and know that there are resources available such as doctors, hospitals, counselors, family and friends, all that can help you get the necessary care.

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend attending one of theses personal well ness sessions as you learn what to look for and how to deal with many of life's obstacles.  I have personally recognized some of the stresses in my life, over and above what is considered the normal average of 4 or less, so I have decided to step back and see where I can makes changes to reduce my stress level.