When we think of health, we usually imagine BMI machines, talking to a nutritionist, running, dieting, and even more running. Is it just me, or do your feet hurt even talking about this much running?
May 10-17th is National Women’s Health Week put on by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The way we move our bodies and fuel them to stay healthy is most often the core message this week, but what if we mapped out a new route of what it means to be a healthy woman?
It’s in Your Head.
Did you know one in five women struggle with mental illness? As a military spouse, keeping our families thriving can take a toll on us mentally. Health class doesn’t cover emotional healthy processing, but it should. Asking for what you need by using language such as, ‘it would feel supportive if‘ and ‘could you‘ instead of ‘would you‘ can alleviate tension. Feelings are not bad. Suppressing feelings may lead to trauma, resentment, and bitterness. Uncover your genuine emotions by using your words, journaling, or going to a therapist so you can move through them instead of feeling stuck. Between therapy with Military OneSource and Betterhelp.com, it is more accessible than ever to raise your hand and receive help.
Sexual Healing
If you are over the age of 21, it is crucial to get a pap smear to check your health. One in ten women has either Endometriosis or PCOS, both of which significantly impact your reproductive system. Understanding how your hormonal cycles affect you, whether you bleed or not, is useful information when you visit the doctor if something feels off. Neglecting your sexual health due to shame can have long term impacts on your health and fertility.
Let’s get physical!
We treat our bodies as a burden to carry; is it possible to view her as the temple of your soul instead? In this lens, how can you treat your body with kindness? Would your body love to dance to your favorite 90’s jams or meander on a long stroll in the evening? What if we move our body in joy instead of punishment or vindictiveness? National Women’s Health Week encourages us to create sustainable relationships with our bodies, a friendship where we care for her as much as we care for ourselves. This is a week well worth celebrating.
Sources:
https://www.womenshealth.gov/nwhw/about
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml