Presbyterian | Your Story | Centennial Care | Fall 2021

6 Emotional wellness is part of living a healthy life. Emotional wellness means understanding how you feel (happy, sad, angry, excited)—then thinking about why you feel that way and how you express your feelings. Each day you deal with life’s stresses, surprises, and successes. It is normal to have many feelings during the day because of that. It’s also normal for you to feel different from other people. How you can work on emotional wellness Take some time to focus on positive feelings. Try this guided imagery activity: 1. Find a comfortable place and close your eyes. 2. Take a few deep breaths. 3. Imagine a place where you feel calm and at peace. 4. Think about what is happening in that place. How does it feel or smell? 5. Imagine taking a walk through your calm place. 6. Take a few minutes to breathe slowly and enjoy the moment. 7. Think of a word or sound to help you think of this place in the future. 8. Count to three and then open your eyes. COVID-19 and depression Since March of 2020, the number of people having anxiety and depression has grown. Fear, grief, social restrictions, loneliness, and unemployment have affected our mental health during this time. Many people who have had COVID-19 and gotten better also report new problems with depression and anxiety. Depression is more than just feeling sad. It’s a serious condition that can be very hard on people who have it and their families. Depression affects men and women, rich and poor, and people of all backgrounds. People with depression can have many symptoms, like: ● Having no feelings ● Anxiety, anger, or irritability ● Difficulty concentrating ● Loss of interest in things they usually enjoy ● Eating or sleeping too little or too much If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your provider. Your provider will work with you to help you feel better. They may say that you should talk to a counselor or social worker to help you understand and control your depression. They may also prescribe medication. It can take time to find the right dose and the right medication to help. Be patient and keep talking to your provider! People with depression may feel worthless , hopeless , or overly guilty . Some may have thoughts of suicide or hurting themselves. For urgent help, please call: ● New Mexico Crisis and Access Line (open 24/7): 1-855-662-7474 ● National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (open 24/7): 1-800-273-8255 ● Peer to Peer Warmline (for non-crisis calls): 1-855-466-7100 All about wellness 101: Emotional health Everyday wellness tools you can use Try the Health Education Tool to learn more about emotional wellness: ● Log in using your myPRES account information. { Go to www.phs.org/mypres to access the program. { Click on “Wellness” and select “Health Education Tools.” ● Learn more about guided imagery. { Search for “Stress Management: Guided Imagery to Relax.” ● Watch a video. { Search for “Positive Thinking” or “Your Thoughts Affect What You Feel and Do.”