Integrative approach: Lifestyle and Wellbeing

Lifestyle and Wellbeing Mental wellbeing is a critical predictor of overall health, providing the foundation for a vital and productive life. The goal is to advocate for an integrative approach to wellbeing that takes into account all aspects of the whole person: physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual. Lifestyle measures designed to reduce inflammation and improve overall health are a cornerstone of the integrative model of health care. Therefore, education about lifestyle approaches such as exercise, healthy diet, time in nature, stress management, social support, restorative sleep, optimism, resilience, and connection to spirituality are equally very important. A primary goal in integrative mental health is to minimize detrimental pro-inflammatory lifestyle factors such as: chronic stress, sedentary lifestyle, poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, obesity, substance abuse, exposure to environmental toxins, and social isolation. It is encouraging to know that positive changes in one area of lifestyle can create a synergistic effect in others. For example, physical activity can improve sleep, healthy sleep can influence mood, and so on, lending momentum to continued improvement in the motivated patient.

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