HEALTH AND WELLNESS
MAY 2018
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
TRUE SAFE PLACES
Nicole Johns , LCSW
There are so many people suffering from mental health challenges today that don ’ t even realize it , and they are alone . Unfortunately , in many families and cultures , the idea of acknowledging a mental health concern or even seeking counseling is still taboo . Many have been taught to “ suck it up ” or never let them see you sweat ” People have been told , “ you ’ re strong enough to handle it .” Sometimes people are even told that they just need to pray more . Therefore the people and places that are supposed to be safe for us are actually encouraging us to stay hidden in the darkness and silence .
The reality is that we all experience loss , disappointment , heartaches , profound sadness , anxiety and fear at some point in our lives . These feelings might be the result of losing a loved one to death , losing a job , losing a relationship or a house . Sometimes an important goal is not reached , a business fails , there is an unexpected illness , or a traumatic car accident happens .
Sometimes we are born with chemical imbalances , and due to the unattended losses or traumatic events in our lives , we have a hard time coping and bouncing back .
I desire that all people would have a healthy safe place to get the help that they need . I want them to have a place where they can unload and share . I want them to learn and grow as they come into a place of wholeness .
We all need those safe places . It can help us to be better moms , dads , husbands , wives , sons , daughters , friends , co-workers , bosses and neighbors . Just being all-around mentally healthy individuals encourages healthy families and healthy communities . Come find out more about becoming
HEALTHY VS UNHEALTHY
mentally healthier at the Mental Health Awareness Night May 18th , 2018 at 7 pm at AWAKE Coffee Community .
Nicole Johns , LCSW
Mental Health Awareness is important because it allows us to reflect on our life : our marriage , our children , and our relationships .
Rhonda Wilson , LMFT
Mental Health is one of the most misunderstood forms of health . To this day , many people lack a true understanding of what mental health entails and why it ’ s essential . The stigma of mental health has kept many people from seeking the help they need and deserve . People suffer silently because they refuse to get the ugly label of “ crazy .”
What many people don ’ t understand is that Mental Health is health too . You can ’ t say you are taking care of
There are many foods marketed as “ health foods ” that are misleading not because these foods can ’ t be eaten as part of a healthy diet because they absolutely can . However , they aren ’ t as “ healthy ” as the marketing might make you believe . Dried fruit , for example , is very high in calories compared to whole fruit because of the added sugar . Again , not that these are inherently bad for you , but they aren ’ t the best things to center your diet around .
yourself if your mental health is not included . Total health is incomplete without it . Many times , other forms of health can be heavily influenced by one ’ s psychological state .
It ’ s time for us to lay down the stigma and pick up our wellness . It ’ s time to educate and motivate about one of the most important
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forms of health . No longer will we let people miss out on one of the best feelings in the world , mental wellness . Join us as we discuss mental health , it ’ s importance and ways to maintain it .
Latitia Woods , MA , LPC , NCC
I have nothing against a good snack throughout the day . If it works for you and you like it , then that ’ s fantastic . As Dumbledore told me just after my Bar Mitzvah , mazel tov you handsome little man ( Crazy story , I ’ ll tell you another time ).
I ’ m not big on calling foods “ healthy ” or “ unhealthy ” because , the truth is , whatever constitutes “ healthy ” is dependent on your lifestyle as a whole and not just a single food you eat at one point in time . Too much or too little or anything isn ’ t good for you . Just like no one ever got fat from eating a doughnut , no one ever got skinny from eating one salad . “ Healthy ” is your lifestyle as a whole , not one food in isolation .
The same goes for fruit juices like Naked , premixed smoothies , granola and kale chips . They use something called the “ health halo ” to make you believe they ’ re healthy when , in reality , they ’ re calorie dense foods that tend to make you hungrier and crave more rather than fill you up . Again these foods are not evil , but please don ’ t believe they are the answer to your fitness goals . The key to a healthy lifestyle is whole and clean foods . Green veggies , lean proteins , healthy carbs , and fats are all good for you .
Again I am not saying these foods are bad for you or that you can ’ t eat them . I am saying they aren ’ t as “ healthy ” as they make you believe . They probably shouldn ’ t make up a significant portion of your diet .
Jacob Fuchs Fooding Fuchs
LOOK GOOD & BE FOUND !
PLANT A ROW , ROCKDALE
The Plant-A-Row Garden ( PAR ) in Rockdale County is a community service project run by Master Gardener Extension Volunteers ( MGEVs ). Volunteers spend countless hours preparing the site , planting , harvesting , and managing the garden to support residents in need in Rockdale County . The fresh produce from
the PAR garden is donated to Rockdale Emergency Relief .
Project Leader , Ronnie Peden and Georgia Power retirees , Lee Cronan and Charlie Bleakley have dedicated countless hours to making this garden successful by producing 9,637 pounds of fresh produce in the past four
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years . Altogether , the MGEV ’ s and Georgia Power retirees have volunteered over 1,400 hours of work in the garden producing tomatoes , corn , okra , bell peppers , squash , cucumber , eggplant and hot peppers during the summer and cabbage , collards , turnips , kale , broccoli and sweet potatoes in the fall garden .
The PAR Garden has recently moved the garden to its new location near the tennis courts on Parker Road in Conyers . Residents who enjoy the Olde Town Conyers walking trails on Parker Road or play tennis will be able to see the garden grow and the great work the MGEV ’ s are doing for the community . Master Gardeners are currently planting a mini-pollinator garden outside the garden fence to attract the bees and butterflies which will then do nature ’ s work and pollinate the vegetable garden as well as add color and beauty to the landscape .
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The Master Gardener Extension Volunteer ( MGEV ) program in Georgia is a volunteer training program designed to help University of Georgia Cooperative Extension staff transfer research-based information about gardening and related subjects to the public by training home gardeners to be volunteer educators . Through active MGEV programs in many Georgia counties , UGA Cooperative Extension is able to |
reach out and serve more citizens with educational programming and demonstrations . Learn more about becoming a Master Gardener and about all the great projects our Rockdale County MGEV ’ s are doing by visiting our website at www . extension . uga . edu / county-offices / rockdale .
Amy Smith ANR Program Assistant Rockdale County
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