The MCC Wellness Team is very excited and honored that we now
have space in our new building to begin offering wellness education and services to our large LGBT and our allies (non-gay,
straight, wonderful supporters.) .
Wellness is an ongoing process to reach for our full potential as human beings,
personally and in relation to our families, our community, and the world around us. Why Use a Wellness Model?
Wellness
focuses on the total person, addressing areas of diversity, values and interests. Using the Wellness Model assists in the
individual development of all of us and helps enhance all aspects of our daily experience. The wellness philosophy embodies
8 dimensions of wellness aimed to address the full person with the goal of promoting and attaining a well-balanced, integrated,
healthy individual.
The MCC Wellness team is comprised of Irene Crawford RN, Program Director. She has been a nurse for over 30
years and has extensive assessment skills as she has worked in several critical care units, she has been an ER supervisor.
Irene has also worked on several Native American Reservations, small hospitals, insurance case management, and most recently
has worked in home care for over 15 years.
As a wellness team we hope to provide our services at our church and as we learn
from all of you, we will try to do our best to hear your concerns. We are a new team and I hope and pray you will be gentle
with us!
Currently you may contact
us at the MCC Church 406-771-1070 or call Irene at 406-788-6325. We hope to establish regular hours, currently we will see
by appointment.
There is no cost
to you for our services, but we would appreciate donations of any size to help our program grow and be accessible.
Many people think about "wellness" in terms of physical health
only. The word invokes thoughts of nutrition, exercise, weight, and your current blood pressure. Wellness, however, is much
more than physical health.
Wellness
is an ongoing process to reach for our full potential as human beings, personally and in relation to our families, our community,
and the world around us. Wellness is an integration of eight dimensions of life. Physical ~ Emotional ~ Environmental ~ Spiritual ~ Social ~ Intellectual ~ Occupational
~ Sexual
Physical
Wellness Physical wellness encompasses a variety of healthy behaviors including adequate
exercise, proper nutrition, and abstaining from harmful habits such as drug use and alcohol abuse. It means learning about
and identifying symptoms of disease, getting regular medical checkups, and protecting yourself from injuries and harm. Developing
such healthy habits today will not only add years to your life but will enhance the enjoyment and quality of those years.
Tips for optimal physical wellness: Exercise
daily Get adequate rest Use seat belts, helmets, and other protective equipment Learn to recognize early signs of illness
Practice safer sex, if you are sexually
active Eat a variety of healthy
foods Control your meal portions
Stop smoking and protect yourself
against second-hand smoke Use
alcohol in moderation, if at all
Emotional Wellness Emotional wellness is a dynamic state that
fluctuates frequently with your other six dimensions of wellness. Being emotionally well is typically defined as possessing
the ability to feel and express human emotions such as happiness, sadness, and anger. It means having the ability to love
and be loved and achieving a sense of fulfillment in life. Identifying the obstacles that prevent us from achieving emotional
wellness and taking appropriate steps to cope with such problems is also important. Emotional wellness encompasses optimism,
self-esteem, self-acceptance, and the ability to share feelings.
Tips for optimal emotional wellness: Tune into your thoughts and feelings Cultivate an optimistic attitude Seek and provide support Learn time management skills Practice stress management techniques Accept
and forgive yourself.
Environmental Wellness Environmental wellness is an awareness of the unstable state of the earth and the effects of your daily habits
on the physical environment. It consists of maintaining a way of life that maximizes harmony with the earth and minimizes
harm to the environment. It includes being involved in socially responsible activities to protect the environment. Examples
of environmental threats include ultraviolet radiation in the sunlight, air, chemical, noise, water pollution, and second-hand
smoke.
Although some environmental
concerns are beyond our control, there are things that can be done to promote a healthier earth.
Tips and suggestions
for optimal environmental wellness: Stop
your junk mail Conserve water and
other resources Minimize chemical
use Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Renew your relationship with the earth
Spiritual Wellness Spiritual wellness involves possessing a set of guiding beliefs, principles, or values that help
give direction to one's life. It encompasses a high level of faith, hope, and commitment to your individual beliefs that
provide a sense of meaning and purpose. People derive meaning and purpose through nature, art, music, religion, meditation,
or good deeds performed for others. Spirituality transcends the individual to create a common bond with humanity.
Tips and suggestions for optimal spiritual wellness: Explore your spiritual core Spend
time alone/meditate regularly Be
inquisitive and curious Be fully
present in everything you do Listen
with your heart and live by your principles Allow yourself and those around you the freedom to be who they are See opportunities for growth in the challenges life brings you
Social Wellness Social wellness refers to our ability to interact successfully in our global community and to live up to the expectations
and demands of our personal roles. This means learning good communication skills, developing intimacy with others, and creating
a support network of friends and family members.
Social wellness includes showing respect for others and yourself. Contributing to your community and
to the world builds a sense of belonging.
Tips and suggestions for optimal social wellness include: Cultivate healthy relationships Get involved Contribute to your community Share your talents and skills Communicate your thoughts, feelings, and ideas
Intellectual Wellness Intellectual wellness is characterized by the ability to make sound decisions and to think critically. It
includes openness to new ideas; motivation to master new skills; and a sense of humor, creativity, and curiosity. Striving
for personal growth and a willingness to seek out and use new information in an effective manner for personal and social development
are also part of intellectual wellness.
The
intellectual dimension encourages creative, stimulating mental activities. Our minds need to be continually inspired and exercised
just as our bodies do. People who possess a high level of intellectual wellness have an active mind and continue to learn.
An intellectually well person uses the resources available to expand one's knowledge and improve skills. Keeping up-to-date
on current events and participating in activities that arouse our minds are also important.
Tips and suggestions
for optimal intellectual wellness include: Take
a course or workshop Learn (or perfect)
a foreign language Seek out people
who challenge you intellectually Read
Learn to appreciate art
Occupational Wellness Occupational wellness involves preparing and making use of your gifts, skills, and talents in order to gain
purpose, happiness, and enrichment in your life. The development of occupational satisfaction and wellness is related to your
attitude about your work. Achieving optimal occupational wellness allows you to maintain a positive attitude and experience
satisfaction/pleasure in your employment.
The
occupationally well individual contributes her/his unique skills/talents to work that is meaningful and rewarding. Values
are expressed through involvement in activities that are personally rewarding for you and make a contribution to the well
being of the community at large. Occupational wellness means successfully integrating a commitment to your occupation into
a total lifestyle that is satisfying and rewarding.
Tips and suggestions for optimal occupational wellness include: Explore a variety of career options
Create a vision for your future
Choose a career that suits your
personality, interests, and talents Visit
a career planning/placement office and use the available resources Be
open to change and learn new skills
Sexual Wellness The World Health Organization (WHO) defines sexual health as "the state of physical, emotional, mental and social
well-being related to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction and infirmity. Sexual health requires
a positive, respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and
safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the
sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled." This channel focuses on understanding sexual
health issues of special interest to women. It also examines issues relating to communication within sexual relationships,
and much more.
Women's Sexual Health Introduction: There is a wide range of focus on understanding
sexual health issues of special interest to women. There are also issues relating to communication within sexual relationships,
and much more.
Women's Sexual Health Topics: Desire Pleasure Orgasm Medications and Supplements Gynecological Concerns Pain
During Intercourse Menopause Menstruation and Breast Health Infertility Pregnancy and Child Birth Masturbation Body Image Contraception
Men’s sexual health
introduction: There is a wide range of factors focusing on men's sexual health, from physical issues
(prostate health, chronic illnesses), to reproductive and sexual functioning issues (infertility, erectile dysfunction), to
the effects of outside influences on male sexual health (medications, aging) as well as pleasure. There is also multiple issues
relating to communication within sexual relationships, and much more.
Mens sexual health topic include: Desire Pleasure Orgasm Masturbation Erectile Dysfunction Issues Prostate
Health Rapid or Delayed Ejaculation Ejaculate Issues Penis and Testicular Health Infertility Medications and Supplements Contraception Body Image
