Be Well AA

Life may feel out of control, hopeless or unmanageable. Changes to your normal behavior patterns may become dangerous or harmful to your physical and/or mental health.

• Change in appetite that is potentially dangerous to your health
• Extreme change in sleep patterns
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Negative changes in relationships with friends and family
• Exhaustion/feeling unable to take part in physical activities/exercise
• Relapse and/or use of substances/addictive behaviors that is potentially dangerous to your health
• Inability to control emotions or absence of emotions (feeling numb or shutdown)
• Intrusive thoughts of harming self or others or pervasive negative thoughts

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Actions: You know your stage, but now what? Here are some actions to take. Being in crisis is not a sustainable state and requires immediate help and attention. 

• Call the Anne Arundel County Crisis Response Warmline 410-768-5522
• Go to the ER or Urgent Care Crisis Walk-In Clinic at AAMC or Sheppard Pratt
• Text TALK to 741 a 24/7 crisis text line
• Call 988 Suicide Hotline
• Contact your sponsor

Things may feel more bad than good and normal tasks of life may seem overwhelming, or even unimportant. Changes to your normal behavior patterns may be unhealthy and disruptive to your physical/mental health and it may be difficult to recognize how to make changes.

• Change in appetite that is unusual/unhealthy
  • Eating much less or much more than usual
• Change in sleep pattern that is unusual/unhealthy
  • Insufficient or restless sleep, or sleeping much more than usual
• Avoidance of social activities and interactions with friends and family
• Low energy/limited to no physical activity/exercise
• Increasing use of substances/addictive behaviors
• Majority of thoughts are negative or upsetting
• Difficulty responding appropriately to negative situations or events

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Actions: You know your stage, but now what? Here are some actions to take. Help is often needed to progress to a more positive state of mental health.

• Make an appointment with a therapist; find out if your employer offers an EAP
• Schedule an appointment with your general practitioner
• Reach out to your spiritual counsel or community
• Connect with friends and family Join a recovery support group
• Strive to meet your basic needs of eating regular meals and getting enough sleep
• Limit your exposure to negative news and to social media

Behavior patterns are moving towards normal or healthy, but keeping up with them may feel challenging. In this stage there may be an awareness that behaviors are unhealthy and that a change is needed, even if you are not ready to make the change.

• Some unhealthy eating patterns, but aware of the need for change and occasionally making healthier choices
• Sleep may be a combination of restful and restless night’s sleep
• Participating in some social activities
• Increased energy level to allow for some physical activity/exercise
• Ability to see and acknowledge unhealthy substance use/addictive behaviors; may begin seeking help for substances/addictive behaviors
• More appropriate and controlled emotions; may begin exploring support such as therapy, faith-based counseling and/or mutual aid groups

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Actions: You know your stage, but now what? The feeling of surviving can easily slip to struggling, or bump up to thriving, depending on the actions you take.

• Stay connected to your support network, whether it is a therapist, faith-based counselor or community, recovery group, family or friends or other support groups.
• Prioritize forming and maintaining healthy patterns of your physical needs, such as eating regular and healthy meals, getting consistent, restful sleep and engaging in exercise most days.
• Make a point to take part in some social activities, even if it feels like the last thing you want to do.

Thriving does not necessarily mean life is free from troubles, but the ability to cope well and in healthy ways is present. In this stage, behavior patterns are normal and healthy for YOU.

• Normal and healthy eating patterns
• Restful and consistent sleep
• Participate and initiate social activities
• Healthy and positive relationships with friends and family
• Routinely taking part in physical activities/exercise
• Substances/addictive behaviors are under control; participating in treatment and/or recovery services
• Appropriate emotional responses, even to upsetting or overwhelming situations
• If needed, engaging in therapy, counseling or other forms of support

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Actions: You know your stage, but now what? Here are some actions to take. Getting to a healthy place is a great time to build on your successes and make a plan for the next time you face challenging times!

• Take your healthy patterns one step further: try new foods, start a new fitness routine, begin a mediation practice.
• Give back to the community that supported you by volunteering or just offering an ear when others are in times of distress.
• Keep up with your support network and stay engaged with any professional therapy or counseling you are receiving.
• Initiate plans with friends and schedule regular social activities to stay connected
• Think about big changes you may want to make and look into what steps you need to take. Do you want to go back to school? Try a new hobby? Start gathering information.
• Pay attention to how you feel. Check in regularly with your behavior patterns so you can make changes before challenges seem overwhelming.

You may not always feel like you are excelling, but you may have moments that feel this way. Be present in those moments and recognize that we are all on a continuum of mental health. Excelling may feel like you are operating at peak performance or at a high point in your life. This could be the birth of a child, a promotion at work, securing housing, celebrating a sobriety milestone or pursuing an artistic/creative venture.

• Feeling energized and enthusiastic
• Ability to overcome obstacles and challenges while maintaining a positive attitude
• Being optimistic about the future

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Actions: You know your stage, but now what? Here are some actions to take. If you find yourself here, take advantage and be present in the moment. Think about how your mind and body feel. What can you do in your daily life to maintain that feeling and incorporate even more moments of excelling?

• Recognize the moment when you are in it; put away phones or other screens and focus on the present.
• If possible, take the time to write in a journal about when and how you felt this way so that you can look back at it during times you feel less than excelling.
• Use this frame of mind to evaluate decisions you have had difficulty making. The gift of a positive mindset can make even the toughest decisions easier to make.

Intellectual wellness encompasses maintaining an active and stimulated mind, constantly engaging in lifelong learning, and actively seeking out new challenges to expand one's knowledge and skills. It involves nurturing a sense of curiosity and self-expression through various creative outlets. This state of wellness can be attained through both academic pursuits and personal interests.

Examples of intellectual wellness include:

• Engaging in healthy debates and making space to challenge your own thoughts and opinions
• Seeking out information about unfamiliar topics
• Learning about a different culture or language
• Developing a new hobby

Environmental wellness involves how we interact with the world around us, both natural and built. It's about feeling safe and supported by our surroundings. This includes everything from the great outdoors to the spaces we live and work in.

Examples of intellectual wellness include:

• Access to clean air, water and food
• Close proximity to outdoor spaces and opportunities to enjoy nature
• A living space free of unwanted clutter
• Taking time to unplug from electronic devices and screens

Financial wellness encompasses an individual's ability to maintain a stable income, save money, and manage debt responsibly. Understanding one's financial situation and having a plan to enhance it, if desired, plays a significant role in leading a healthy and balanced life.

Examples of financial wellness:

• Setting realistic budget goals to work within your income
• Assessing debt and creating a plan to tackle it
• Making small changes to set aside money for savings
• Meeting with a financial advisor

Social wellness involves building healthy and positive relationships with others and our community. It's all about participating in social activities, feeling like we belong, and knowing how to set healthy boundaries.

Examples of Social Wellness:

• Participating in events in your community or neighborhood
• Reaching out to trusted friends or family when you are sad or depressed instead of isolating
• Getting together with friends that you enjoy time with on a regular basis
• Being able to say no to social engagements you don’t want to participate in

Physical wellness involves maintaining your health and physical fitness through positive lifestyle decisions. This includes engaging in regular exercise, adopting a balanced diet, and effectively managing stress. Seeking appropriate healthcare when necessary and finding a balance between staying active and allowing for rest are also essential components of physical wellness.

• Engaging in exercise 30 minutes most days
• Choosing healthy foods most of the time
• Making preventative appointments, such as annual physicals and regular dentist visits
• Scheduling breaks into a hectic work schedule

Spiritual wellness refers to finding meaning and purpose in life, as well as exploring one’s own beliefs and values to connect to something greater than oneself. Individuals may find this connection in nature, community, faith or other spiritual outlets.

• Developing a mindfulness or meditation practice to center yourself in the present
• Reading books or articles that explore different aspects of spirituality
• Gathering with others that share your beliefs and values
• Cultivating a sense of gratitude towards yourself and others