What is Emotional Wellness?
Emotional wellness refers to a person’s ability to understand and manage their emotions in a healthy and balanced way. It’s not about being happy all the time, but rather about recognizing emotions, accepting them, and finding constructive ways to respond. Emotional wellness also involves cultivating resilience, so we can bounce back from setbacks and adapt to challenges. Evolve Youth Services can coordinate complementary alternative therapies for our families that supplement traditional counseling.
When a person is emotionally well, they are able to:
- Cope with stress without feeling overwhelmed
- Build positive relationships by expressing needs and listening to others
- Handle challenges with a sense of perspective and inner strength
- Understand and regulate emotional responses
- Feel connected to ourselves and others
What Emotional Wellness Feels Like
Self-Awareness: Understanding and reflecting on feelings calmly
Emotional regulation: Ability to manage reactions to stressful situations
Positive relationships: Maintain healthy connections and boundaries with others
Resilience: Bounce back from difficult situations and grow from challenges
Optimism and gratitude: Focus on small moments of joy, believing in one’s own ability to rebound
Emotional Red Flags
Emotional red flags that can alert you to your, or your child’s, need for additional therapeutic approaches include lingering sadness, overwhelming worry that impedes sleep or focus, mood swings, social anxiety, or drastic changes in self care.
- Lingering sadness
- Overwhelming worry that impedes sleep or ability to focus
- Mood swings
- Social anxiety
- Drastic changes in self care
- Increased need to check out or use unhealthy coping strategies
- Impulsive behavior
- Extreme perfectionism
Alternative Therapies Available Locally
Reiki and Sound Healing
Reiki is a form of energy healing based on the idea that life force energy flows through us and affects our physical and emotional well-being. During a Reiki session, a practitioner gently places their hands on or near the body, channeling healing energy to help balance and align the body’s energy centers. Sound healing is a therapeutic practice that uses sound frequencies to improve mental, emotional, and physical health. Instruments such as singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs, or even the human voice are used to create vibrations that resonate with the body’s energy fields. Sound healing can be included in meditation, mindfulness practices, and wellness sessions to promote balance and healing.
Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback is a therapeutic technique that uses real-time brain activity monitoring to help individuals regulate their brain function. By observing brainwave patterns through non-invasive sensors, individuals receive feedback, often in the form of visual or auditory cues, to guide their brain toward healthier patterns. Over time, neurofeedback has been shown to enhance self-regulation, improve focus, and promote emotional balance.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese therapy that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to balance energy. Some studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. A 2014 study found that acupuncture was significantly more effective than a placebo in reducing preoperative anxiety. Acupuncture is covered by many health insurance policies.
Safety Considerations
When performed by a trained practitioner, acupuncture is considered safe though rare cases of minor infections have been reported. Most of the time the tiny needles are painless and a fear of needles should not necessarily be a contraindication to trying this modality.
Personal Wellness Practices To Try On Your Own
Herbal Teas and Aromatherapy
Several natural products have been studied for their anxiety-reducing effects. A 2016 trial found that chamomile tea or extract can reduce anxiety symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder. Other studies suggest lavender reduces anxiety when used in aromatherapy or ingested in treats like lavendar ice cream or tea.
Safety Considerations
Allergic reactions are always something to look out for when ingesting something new. Lavender, while generally safe, might interact with other sedative medications.
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is a popular technique for promoting emotional wellness and balance. A 2019 analysis found that mindfulness-based practices are effective in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness is also thought to improve daily functioning and the ability to focus. There are many apps and music services, some free, that provide guided meditations and lessons in traditional meditation.
The Healing Power of Humor
Laughing reduces stress hormones, boosts the immune system, and triggers the release of endorphins—natural mood enhancers. It can improve heart health by increasing blood flow and promoting relaxation. On an emotional level, humor helps shift perspective, lightening the weight of difficult situations and fostering resilience. Sharing laughter strengthens social bonds, creating a sense of connection and well-being.
The Role of Self-Compassion in Emotional Wellness
One of the most important apects of emotional wellness is self-compassion. This means treating yourself with kindness, especially during tough times. Instead of criticizing yourself for mistakes, practice self-forgiveness and acknowledge that everyone makes mistakes.
Being kind to yourself builds inner resilience and helps you be better equipped to handle challenges. Self-compassion also fosters a positive mindset and promotes emotional balance.
Taking small, consistent steps to nurture emotional health and support personal growth can lead to a more balanced and fulfilled life. Remember to seek support when needed, and prioritize practices that align with your own personal well-being.
EYS families may have access to alternative therapies. Contact your CFS or call the office for information on the services available to you.
SOURCES: 1 Heid, Markham 2018. You asked: Do Massages Have Benefits. TIME Magazine. https://time.com/5085140/massage-health-benefits/ 2 Emotional Wellness Toolkit 2022. NIH. https://www.nih.gov/health-information/emotional-wellness-toolkit 3 NCCIH Clinical Digest for Health Professionals 2020. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/anxiety-and-complementary-health-approaches-science#mind-and-body-approaches 4 Empowering Wellness 2020. The Importance of emotional wellness. https://8dow.org/emotional-wellness/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwi5q3BhCiARIsAJCfuZleCJfn4zaTcvo7F8TtD4OJCg_YNK2f87nguGzltN6cD0srwyFTX0saAkmuEALw_wcB
