Finding Balance in Today’s

Frantic Culture

Suzanne Witt-Foley , MakingConnections4Health

2019

1
 Key Themes
Discover how stress is an underlying key
factor in the development of social,
emotional & physical health problems
Explore a framework for understanding
the impact
Discuss and explore strategies that can
reduce & buffer toxic stress and why
relationships & connection are essential
Stress….
What triggers stress response are threats
(or perceived threats) to our survival….
Response to Stress
 Signs of Stress Overload
• Feeling overwhelmed or constantly worried
• Feeling tired most of the time
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Gaining or losing a lot of weight
• Becoming easily irritated or angry
• Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
• Feeling sad
• Having frequent headaches, stomach problems, allergic
reactions, bodily pain or other physical problems
• Abusing alcohol or drugs, including prescription
medications

2019-04-26
 Factors Impacting Well Being
Self Divorce
Esteem Expectations Family
Time pressures Loss Relationships/
Poor diet Conflict/Parenting
Social Isolation
Illness/Pain/ Bullying
Sleep problems Oppression Violence
Finances/Lack Discrimination
of Money Economy/
Employment abuse
Instability

Unrelenting Chronic Stress or Toxic Stress

Access to
care
Genetics Coping
Mental Illness & with
Substance
Chronic Illness
Use
Suicide
 Understanding
What Determines
Health:

• Health is not just the result

of genes, lifestyle, access
to care

• It’s also determined by the

day-to-day conditions in
which we work, live & play
Factors Impacting Good Health

living conditions
25%
biology/genetics

50%
physical
10% environment
health care delivery
15%
 Defining Mental Health

Mental health is the capacity of each and all of us to feel, think,

act in ways that enhance our ability to enjoy life, cope with the
challenges we face, work productively and is able to make a
contribution to his or her community.

It is a positive sense of emotional and spiritual well-being that

respects the importance of culture, equity, social justice,
interconnections and personal dignity.
 The Mental Health/Illness
Continuum
Optimal Mental Health

Optimal Mental Health Optimal Mental Health

Without Mental Illness With a Mental Illness

No Symptoms Serious Mental

Of Mental Illness Illness
Poor Mental Health Poor Mental Health
Without a Mental Illness With a Mental Illness

Poor Mental Health

“The most serious problem
is not the presence of
mental illness, but the
absence of mental health.”
-C. Keys, Emory University Magazine, Winter

2008
2019-04-26
Triangle of Well Being

Social

Mental Physical
 Definition of Health
Health is the state of physical,
mental and social well-being
and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity.
World Health Organization
What triggers stress response are
threats (or perceived threats) to
our survival…..
• Pain is central to stress response
• Pain or threat of pain (fear) trigger stress
response….
 What are one or two of the
most painful experiences of
your life?

• Broken leg or fall?

• Social pain
o Loved one dying
o Relationship breakup
o Public humiliation
 The brain responds much the same way to
threat or damage to social bonds as physical pain.
Seinfeld clip

2019-04-26
 Top 10 list of fears
• 3 categories
o Physical harm or death
o Death or loss of loved one
o Speaking in public

What are we afraid of when we speak in

public?
Still face experiment
 Interconnection of Social
Pain/Stress and Physical Pain
• Social pain and physical pain both
activate the same region of the brain
(Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex)
• Social attachments function by
piggybacking onto physical pain system
• Social pain can be eased with opioids
(and even Tylenol) or through
connectedness and attachment
 In summary……
• Our capacity to feel social pain and pleasure
forever links our wellbeing to social connectedness
• Evolution has built us to get together, work and care
for one another – everyone wins = Survival

2019-04-26
 Oppression & Bullying
• We acknowledge physical assault to a greater
degree than emotional assault
• bystanders = mass rejection
• We all have a need to belong. Signs that we are
liked, admired, loved, treated fairly, praise are signs
that we belong.
Find the Tools that Work
for You!

2019-04-26
2019-04-26
 Factors Impacting Well Being
Self Divorce
Esteem Expectations Family
Time pressures Loss Relationships/
Poor diet Conflict/Parenting
Social Isolation
Illness/Pain/ Bullying
Sleep problems Oppression Violence
Finances/Lack Discrimination
of Money Economy/
Employment abuse
Instability

Unrelenting Chronic Stress or Toxic Stress

Coping with
Mental Illness & Chronic Illness Substance Use
2019-04-26
 “Much hard evidence has accumulated that
civic engagement and social connectedness
are practical preconditions for better schools,
healthier workplaces, safer streets and even
longer lives.”
Robert Putnam
Deepening Community
 Shallow Community
 Fear based community
 Deep community

 How do we build deep community?

Strategies to build deep community
 Share stories
 Have fun together
 Take care of each other
 Work together for a better community

 Sense of belonging is directly connected

with the ability to understand and help
shape the vision for their community.
 Factors Impacting Well Being
Self Divorce
Esteem Expectations Family
Time pressures Loss Relationships/
Poor diet Conflict/Parenting
Social Isolation
Illness/Pain/ Bullying
Sleep problems Oppression Violence
Finances/Lack Discrimination
of Money Economy/
Employment abuse
Instability

Unrelenting Chronic Stress or Toxic Stress

Coping with
Mental Illness & Chronic Illness Substance Use
https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/resource
s/self-care-starter-kit.html

2019-04-26
2019-04-26
2019-04-26
Mindful Moment

2019-04-26
Journaling/Writing

2019-04-26
Fuel

2019-04-26
2019-04-26
Just Breathe...
Yoga

2019-04-26
Sleep

2019-04-26
Laughter/Humor

2019-04-26
Laughing Man Video

2019-04-26
Music

2019-04-26
Being in Creation

2019-04-26
Physical Activity

2019-04-26
Benefits of Physical
Activity

2019-04-26
 The Power Of Empathy

2019-04-26
 Mental Health First Aid
“Great Course! I think that
everyone would benefit
from taking it!”

“Amazing, Empowering, Enlightening”

 Suzanne Witt-Foley
Making Connections for Health
www.suzannewittfoley.com