Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Staying healthy, relationally
This may seem a bit off track, but bear with me. As you know, if you’ve read my blog for a while, I believe that you have to look at all aspects of your life to be truly well. Of course, the health of your body plays a big part, but so do your mind and your spirit. They all need care.
I’ve realized even more lately that being well includes having healthy relationships. If you experience constant turmoil in a relationship — whether that’s with a spouse, partner, boy/girlfriend or whomever — the stress of that is going to take its toll on your health, no matter what else you do that’s right.
One of the reasons this has come to the forefront of my thoughts currently is because I am involved in 40 hours of training to work with our local crisis center. The crisis center assists victims of domestic violence with shelter, support, referrals, court and hospital advocates, counseling and much more.
This is an area I’ve wanted to assist in for a long time. Like my health journey, I truly understand because, unfortunately, I’ve been down that road, too. And, believe me, I wasn’t the type of person most people think would become a victim. It happens all too easily, bit by bit. Soon enough, the person you are is diminished, and you simply aren’t capable of making good decisions or even thinking you are worthy of anything better.
While most people think of domestic violence as physical abuse, there is so much more. As any survivor will tell you, emotional abuse is more painful and more lasting than even physical violence. All of it tears you down, but the emotional wounds run deep and are hard to heal.
If you’re in a situation where you are being physically, emotionally or mentally abused, please keep yourself as safe as you can while you seek help. If you know of someone suffering abuse, please just care about her/him and offer your support and whatever else is needed until that person can make some changes.
People immersed in domestic violence probably aren’t worrying in any way about their health. They have bigger problems at the moment. But if you aren’t there, you can learn more about the signs and how to keep yourself healthy in your relationships before you become stuck in issues that wreck your well being. Even slighter problems are affecting your health. Stress is a killer.
You deserve to be treated well. Take care of that area the same way you take care of your body by paying attention to symptoms or eating right or exercising. It all matters.