"Soaring In Health & Wellness‪"‬ Dr. Steve Wells

We begin our third year with "Soaring In Health & Wellness" in the area of "Cultural Wellness".  As I have mentioned in the beginning episodes of our podcast that we are going to look at all the different dimensions of wellness:physical, emotional, intellectual, interpersonal, cultural, spiritual, environmental, financial and occupational.  One cannot truly have optimal health and wellness unless all of these components are operating at the highest level. These different components are interrelated and effect one another.  With what is happening in our world today with COVID-19 pandemic, the rioting and destruction of property, loss of lives on a daily basis, loss of jobs you can see how this would effect our overall health. We as a nation our entering a very important election in November.  I thank God for the brave men and women that sacrificed their lives that we may live in a free nation, where we have the right to peacefully protest, the key word is peaceful.  Where we have liberty and justice for all, not just for a select few.  We have the freedom to worship as we choose.  Thank God for our law enforcement who go to work each and everyday protecting our cities not knowing that they may not come home that evening.  When I look at what is going on in different parts of our nation where the rioting is, not anywhere close to peaceful, cities trying to defund our law enforcement, I am very troubled and often ask the question why?

The Bible notes in Hosea 4:6, 'my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge."  Proverbs 5:23, "He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly".  Proverbs 10:21, "The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgement."  As I am watching the nightly news and see that the majority of people who are rioting and destroying personal and federal property are young, my children's ages.  I sincerely believe most of them do not know what they are doing or why they are doing it, lack of knowledge.  I heard Kevin speak in our church on a Sunday morning on the topic of Marxism, Socialism and Communism.  I knew that I had to do my part and get educated on these topics.  I have a long way to go.  I would like to share a couple of quotes; "It's been said that socialism would only work in heaven--where it is not needed and in hell--where they already got it", by Jonah Goldberg; Mark Levin notes that Kevin Williamson shows why the problem with socialism isn't just that it hurts the economy, but that it undermines all the institutions that allow a free society to function-and that is why it can't co-exist with liberty; Larry Kudlow explains, "socialism isn't just bad for business, but bad for the poor, bad for the environment, and bad for your health."
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Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I Know The Plans I Have For You," Declares The Lord, "Plans To Prosper You And Not To Harm You, Plans To Give You Hope And A Future." On today's episode, titled "Amazing Grace At The Front Line", Dr. Gayle Galan, MD and her husband Karl, with a "K" discuss God's all sufficient grace during these difficult times of this COVID-19 Pandemic.  Dr. Gayle works in the emergency room of her local hospital, actually, the front line.  We discuss her story, along with her husband Karl, whom is 88 years old, as she battled this invisible enemy.  Additionally, on today's episode we discuss the negative health consequences of this national shutdown which has caused: an increase of 600% of suicide hotline phone calls; an increase of 300-600% of liquor sales; an increase in cigarette sales; family relationships have become frayed.  Dr. Gold, MD with over 500 physicians noted that millions of casualties of a continued shutdown will be hiding in plain sight, but they will be called alcoholism, homelessness, suicide, heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.  In youths it will be called financial instability, unemployment, despair, drug addiction, unplanned pregnancies, poverty , and abuse.  With these severe consequences of this pandemic causing a significant amount of distress.  How do we deal with it?  Dr. Gayle, Karl and the work of Dr. Ken Matto inform our listeners what they can do from a biblical viewpoint in dealing with "stress". 
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We open today's episode with my discussion on the topic of "Isolation" with Dr. Stephen Givens and Michael Moore.  Dr. Givens notes that "isolation" is the worst kind of human torture one can go through.  As one needs air to breathe, food to eat, water to drink we all desire and need to be connected.  Connectivity is part of our DNA. Additionally, we discuss the importance of spirituality in dealing with stress as well as cognitive strategies.  Cognitive strategies include but are not limited to positive thinking, constructive thoughts, laughter and many more.  Furthermore, Stephen, Mike and I discuss financial strategies in dealing with financial.  We finish the episode with what we can do physically and Mike goes through breathing techniques that we can do to help relieve stress.  I know you will enjoy today's episode.
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I am excited about today's episode, "Surviving Stress In Unknow Times" with Dr. Stephen Givens and Michael Moore.  Dr. Givens, Michael and I discuss "counterproductive" and "productive" coping strategies or collectively known as "stress management techniques."  We are going through some very difficult times with COVID-19.  Individuals and families are being isolated in their homes, businesses are closing, individuals losing their jobs and health care workers going to work each and everyday not knowing if they are going to catch this virus. This episode could not have come at a better time.  They say college is a time when you will learn to adapt to new and challenging situations and gain knowledge and skills that will last a lifetime.  It is also a time when many people will develop counterproductive and unhealthy habits in response to stress.  Donatelle notes, although we can't eliminate all life stressors, we can train ourselves to recognize the events that cause stress and to anticipate our reactions to them. She notes one of the most effective ways to combat stressors is to build coping strategies and skills that will negate the psychological and physical effects that stress brings.   
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During this episode, Dr. Wells discusses the different causes of stress transitioning from high school to college and during college life.  Dominique, a graduate from Marshall University with an emphasis on Exercise Science, currently working on completing her Masters in Business Administration from Fairmont State University and small business owner as a personal trainer; Caleb, a graduate from Ohio Valley University with a degree in Forensic Investigative Accounting and a four-year college baseball player give their input on how they adjusted to the different stressors during college.
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Statistics show that 40% of deaths in the United States are related wholly or in part to stress.  Stress effects our lives in three different areas which include: physical, psychological and intellectual.  Donatelle notes that stress is often described as "disease of prolonged arousal" that leads to a cascade of negative health effects.  The longer you are chronically stressed, the more likely will be the negative health effects.  She continues to explain that nearly all body systems become potential targets, and the long term effects may be devastating.  The higher the levels of stress you experience, the greater the likelihood of damage to your physical health (P.Thoits, "Stress and Health": Major Findings and Policy Implications, "Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 2010).  Donatelle notes increase in rates of suicide, homicide, hate crimes, alcohol and drug abuse, and domestic violence across the United States are additional symptoms of a nation under stress. I also discuss "Happiness: The Magic Stress Elixir". Some positive psychologists have found that people who are generally more optimistic or happier have fewer mental and physical health problems, and less stress! If happiness and optimism are keys to stress reduction, how can you find them? Listen to podcast below find some of the answers. We are now on Pandora.
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