Wellness Journalism: Feel It Out

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De-sensitization begins at an early age. We are taught to repress our feelings: Don’t worry. Don’t cry. Don’t be afraid. We are told to remain “in control.” Look sharp. Chin up. Stand firm.

But is this actually possible—or even reasonable? Here we are, trying to navigate through a world filled with pain, struggle, tension large and small…how are we supposed to be immune to it all?

Recognizing emotions for what they are (rather than writing them off as weakness or inconvenience), allows you to respond effectively to your environment. Acknowledging, rather than denying, feelings allows you to be more functional from the inside out. Get a feel for yourself!

Repressed emotion finds its way into the crevices of mind and body, and festers. It then manifests in other areas of life. It becomes stress. It creates drama. It inspires fear. And then, to avoid these unpleasantries, we numb out with food-drugs-alcohol-television-internet-collecting useless stuff; constantly needing to be distracted from how we really feel.

The trouble with always tuning out, above and beyond the obvious pollution in your internal atmosphere, is that you are missing the time of you life.

How you feel is integral to your being. It is central to the quality of your experience day to day, for better or worse. Some clever person observed that “the truth will set you free.” It’s true. Be honest with yourself about your feelings. When you accurately identify them, you can make an informed decision about how to respond.

Some simple examples:

Feeling tired >> Needing to rest.
Feeling stressed out >> Needing to take a moment to relax and re-focus.
Feeling angry >> Needing to express it constructively.
Feeling worried >> Needing reassurance.
Feeling sad >> Needing to cry or grieve.

Our feelings and emotions are keys, maps, and/or signposts that exist to help us navigate the course of our lives! Don't leave them by the wayside.

“Better out than in, I always say.” -Shrek

Wellness Journalism: Healing for the Homesick

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Homesick?

It's common to miss your family, friends and familiar surroundings when you are in a new environment.

And if that new environment is UCSD, it’s par for the course. Adjusting to a hectic schedule, managing the wide variety of social and academic pressures, and even finding healthy food can require a lot of effort. It is perfectly natural that you would crave the comforts of home, but getting out of your comfort zone is the only way to grow.

Give yourself time. Adapting to a new environment is a gradual process, and you determine your own rate of travel. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Explore, engage, discover, and delight in the journey. You’ll find things you love and things you don’t…and along the way, develop self-esteem, build skills, and sharpen your unique talents and abilities. It’s one of those “win-win” situations.

Explore your interests. There is so much to do at UCSD that even if you spend the rest of your life here, you couldn’t exhaust your options. There are over 500 student organizations on campus alone—social, cultural, educational, spiritual, political, recreational, philanthropic, and more! How about the Dan Simmons Comedy Club of Higher Learning? Archery? Random Acts of Kindness Foundation? Student Sustainability Collective? Greek life? Infinite adventures await you. Visit the Center for Student Involvement for more information.

Talk to others. Sometimes a pep talk from a friend or a quick phone call to Mom can make all the difference. Your family is a source of support and encouragement: a place to draw strength from as you lay new foundations here at UCSD. Although certain members of the family may drive you a bit nuts, or your roommate keeps farting in the car, remember that the people who answer the phone when you call and show up to celebrate your birthday are an amazing emotional resource. Psychologist Edward Diener, a.k.a. Dr Happiness, says, “It is important to work on social skills, close interpersonal ties and social support in order to be happy.”

While it may seem like everybody knows what they are doing except you, this simply isn’t true. UCSD is an enormous university with thousands of new students every quarter. In fact, every single person on this campus was new at some point! It is a place of perpetual adjustment and re-adjustment. So speak up. Ask questions (from a simple “How are you?” to the more advanced “Where did you get that iced coffee?”). Build connections with those around you. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet people with similar academic interests, shared hobbies and passions, or a good hangout buddy.

Make yourself comfortable, wherever you are: dorm rooms, apartment homes, lounges, or libraries. Be at home in your own skin. (Nobody can stop you except yourself!) For additional re-enforcements, consider favorite shirts, shoes, socks, underwear, a special necklace, book, journal, key-chain, favorite foods, and/or music. Find a spot that's easy to access and make it yours. Go there to study, read, play games, or just wiggle your toes.

Utilize resources such as Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Their friendly counselors are always available to lend an ear or offer encouragement, tips, and advice.

Wellness Journalism: What's So Funny?

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In this world of mental, mechanical, and material mayhem, you’ve gotta maintain a sense of humor. Be it light, dark, moist, or dry, a solid sense of humor will prevent you from cracking. Laughter breaks tension faster than lightning…in fact, laughter is en-lightening. It’s the fruit of the soul-- and always ripe for the picking!

If you happen to stroll past The Zone on a Friday between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m., you will see a group of people inside, giggling hysterically. You will wonder what is so funny. The answer is, nothing. They’re laughing for the sake of laughter itself and the physical and mental benefit that’s in it.

Laughter Yoga was started with a handful of participants in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria at a park in India. It has since grown into a worldwide phenomenon with more than 6,000 laughter groups in about 60 countries! The concept is simple and contagious. Deep breathing and silly games combine to increase the supply of oxygen in the blood, boost the immune system, recharge the metabolism, and leave you feeling fresh and energized. Laughing, especially for “no reason,” undermines the thinking mind that tends towards frumpiness in high stress environments (UCSD, anyone?). It awakens the natural mechanism of joyful play that exists in each of us. And laughter has no language or cultural barriers; it truly brings people together.

In fact, the impact of laughter is so profound that participants report an increased ability to cope with stress, relief from chronic pain, and a reduction in depression.

The first encounter with Laughter Yoga may feel a bit strange, like any new skill. But then something clicks and you’re rolling in genuine, heart-expanding chuckles. It might just become your favorite Friday afternoon activity. Come and see!

Wellness Journalism: Solvent?

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"The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them."
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery

It’s the first week back to classes and it feels like I’m already behind. The pressure drives me toward blueberry muffins and other tasty treats, the joy of which seem to counteract the dread of my to-do list. But ultimately there is just no way to take 18 units, work 20+ hours a week, and still hope to function as a human being. So I make a bold move and drop my Spanish Literature class. I’ll take it in summer school. (At some point, you gotta know your limits--even while you’re pushing them).

Does this sound familiar? Maybe not the blueberry muffins part…but the feeling of having too much to do and not enough time or energy in the day to get it all done. I know the look, and many of us dashing across campus have it. Friends, I want to say this: starting a new routine is a creative process. You have the power to design your day—or destroy it. And you can go back to the drawing board as many times as you want. If you keep your eye to the big picture, it will come into focus.

This big picture analysis is very useful in maintaining a sense of perspective. Often, we’re more flexible than we give ourselves credit for. In fact, the trouble with many “plans” is that they are based on idealistic, preconceived notions that don’t actually fit the big screen. If you want to paint a pretty picture, consider one thing above all else: your ability to focus in the present moment. You know you have too much on your plate if you can’t even swallow what’s in your mouth.

Any problem that presents itself comes with a hidden prize—the solution. Finding the solution often takes patience and perseverance, experimentation and exploration. As it turns out, the process of solving often holds more value than the solution itself! You may gain new friends, learn important lessons, and increase your awareness of your own intrinsic value. Sit on that and rotate awhile.

“Problems” are life-code for opportunity. It may sound corny, but it’s true.

While it might feel like the world wants more than you can give, in reality the world just wants to see you giving it your best.

So, to sum up:

The problem is that I have a lot to do.

The solution is that focusing on one thing at a time with a clear mind and positive attitude combined with realistic prioritizing will allow me to accomplish what actually needs to be done today.

What you see becomes real, whether it is the problem or the solution. Take your pick.