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Therapy that Activates Joy and Healing
As Recreational Therapy Month comes to an end, it is important to reflect on the many ways this therapy impacts individual well-being and wellness. Recreational therapy uses music, games, and crafts to promote healing. It focuses on mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual functioning by organically integrating these activities into the week. Are you still wondering, what recreational therapy is? Well, we are glad you asked so that we can share how recreation and therapy, working together as a team, can promote well-being!
The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) states that recreational therapy involves treatment services that, “are designed to restore, remediate, and rehabilitate a person's level of functioning and independence in life activities, to promote health and wellness as well as reduce or illuminate the activity limitations and restrictions to participate in life situations caused by an illness or disabling condition.” This therapy is provided by Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) in a variety of settings which include, but are not limited to, mental health facilities, physical rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and acute care hospitals. No matter what the setting is, our health, wellness, and quality of life are likely to benefit from participating in various recreational activities because while in addition to being fun, our body enjoys the wellness benefits from them as well.
Within the recreational therapy process, leisure activities are used as interventions to determine what can help enhance the client's mental and behavioral health. When participating in recreational therapy, the client will learn how to work through feelings more comfortably and increase positive emotions. The recreational therapist facilitates activities that help with goal setting, coping skills, processing trauma, and expressing feelings which may lead to improved self-esteem and increased independence. Hope Therapy Center notes that benefits of this therapy include, “improved self-determination, increased emotional regulation, increased optimism, and feelings of autonomy”.
Additionally, recreational therapy can integrate physical activity which has shown to increase positive mood. Cardio drumming is a cardio work-out that has risen in popularity as a recreational activity that nearly everyone can enjoy whether you are a drummer or just want to have fun! This exercise uses vibrant music, a work-out ball, and drumsticks to engage in movement and fitness. In fact, a study examining the effects of cardio drumming on stress and self-esteem levels in an in-patient psychiatric hospital found that after doing this activity, stress levels decreased and self-esteem scores increased. Through these findings we can see the benefits of emphasizing the interconnection of mind, body, and spirit within the healing journey.
Recreational therapy is recognized for its ability to incorporate fun and enjoyable activities for therapeutic purposes. Recreational therapy offers people who are living with mental and behavioral health challenges a variety of unique methods to navigate the healing process. Through goal setting, coping skill enhancement, and cultivating a sense of positivity, individuals are provided with an opportunity to explore their emotional experiences in a liberating and empowering manner. Recreational therapy in mental health recovery emphasizes holistic well-being and focuses on empowering individuals to lead fulfilling and meaningful lives. It complements other forms of treatment and supports individuals in developing coping strategies, building resilience, and achieving their recovery goals.
The Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) research team exists to promote behavioral health and wellness among individuals facing behavioral health challenges. To learn more about BH WELL, visit our website. Interested in more evidence-based, free mental and behavioral health resources? Follow us @ukbhwell on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Herwig, J. M., Gennaro, V. E., Layne, A. S., & Okoli, C. (Zim) T. (2023). Effect of cardio drumming on stress and self-esteem in an inpatient psychiatric hospital. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 22(1), 31-38. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2023.0277
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The Mental Health of Arabs in the USA
For this video, I am going to share with you common myths about mental health challenges and facts based on research that addresses these misconceptions.
1. Amer MM, Hovey JD. Anxiety and depression in a post-September 11 sample of Arabs in the USA. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology. 2012;47(3):409-418.
2. MentalHealth.gov. Mental Health Myths and Facts. Updated 02/28/2022. https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/mental-health-myths-facts
3. Wang PS, Berglund PA, Olfson M, Kessler RC. Delays in initial treatment contact after first onset of a mental disorder. Health Services Research. 2004;39(2):393-416.
4. Hasan AA, Musleh M. Barriers to seeking early psychiatric treatment amongst first-episode psychosis patients: A qualitative study. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 2017;38(8):669-677.
5. Zolezzi M, Alamri M, Shaar S, Rainkie D. Stigma associated with mental illness and its treatment in the Arab culture: A systematic review. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 2018;64(6):597-609.
6. Weatherhead S, Daiches A. Muslim views on mental health and psychotherapy. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. 2010;83(1):75-89.
7. Youssef J, Deane FP. Factors influencing mental-health help-seeking in Arabic-speaking communities in Sydney, Australia. Mental Health, Religion & Culture. 2006;9(1):43-66.
8. Alhomaizi D, Alsaidi S, Moalie A, Muradwij N, Borba CP, Lincoln AK. An Exploration of the Help-Seeking Behaviors of Arab-Muslims in the US: A Socio-ecological Approach. Journal of Muslim Mental Health. 2018;12(1)
9. Aldalaykeh M, Al-Hammouri MM, Rababah J. Predictors of mental health services help-seeking behavior among university students. Cogent Psychology. 2019;6(1):1660520.
10. Rice AN, Harris SC. Issues of cultural competence in mental health care. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. 2021;61(1):e65-e68.
11. Eldeeb SY. Understanding and Addressing Arab-American Mental Health Disparities. Scholarly Undergraduate Research Journal at Clark. 2017;3(1):1.
12. Arboleda-Flórez J, Stuart H. From sin to science: fighting the stigmatization of mental illnesses. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 2012;57(8):457-463.
13. Klarić M, Lovrić S. Methods to fight mental illness stigma. Psychiatria Danubina. 2017;29(suppl. 5):910-917.
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Plants as Magic!
Madelyn Strong RN, BSN
One day, about five years ago, while resting and eating the previous night’s leftovers with my college roommate and lifelong friend Abby, we came across a video on how to take old candle jars and turn them into pots for plants. We boiled the leftover wax, removed it from the old candle jars, and set them aside. Then, we visited a local home improvement store.
Having a limited budget, we both picked two discount cacti on the verge of death, about 50 cents each, shared a bag of potting soil, and went home to continue our repurposing project. After potting the struggling cacti into the old candle jars, they thrived! The cacti grew with us over the years as we moved from house to house and grew into young professionals.
Today, my home has roughly two hundred plants of a wide variety of species, colors, shapes and sizes. My old cacti from the candle jar is affectionately named “Richard”. He has remained in my home for the past five years, living in ten different pots over the years. He never stops growing! Moreover, my tallest indoor plant, a Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Reginae), is about seven feet tall. My smallest plant, a lithop (part of the Aizoaceae family native to Southern Africa), is the size of a quarter. For me, plants represent responsibility, fragility, dependency and hope. Plants demand their caregivers be responsible for them. Yes, a plant receives some of what it needs organically, like absorbing sunlight; but ultimately, if a plant is going to stay in an unnatural environment, we must adjust the environment to meet its needs. Plants can be fragile and easily harmed. Too much light, not enough humidity, overwatering, or pulling roughly at a stem are all ways plants can be harmed. I may have given you pause in considering gardening and raising indoor plants given the required responsibilities; but, you have yet to hear the best part. The best thing that plants do is to provide undeniable hope.
Do you recall the devastating nuclear disaster in Chernobyl? Against all odds, guess what was recently discovered in the area? Native plants. Martin Hajduch, a plant biologist for the Slovak Academy of Sciences, conducted a study on soybeans growing near Chernobyl. The soybeans were so resilient, they adapted to the soil conditions and grew despite all odds. Isn’t that incredible? Imagine if we had the strength of a tiny, seemingly insignificant, soybean. Plants are hope!
Other studies have shown the mental and physical health benefits of plants. In a review by Hall and Knuth (2019), emotional and mental health benefits of plants included decreased depression, reduced anxiety and stress, enhanced memory, and improved creativity and self-esteem, to name a few. Native American tribes use sweet grass to promote emotional strength and dispel negative energy. Sensory gardens, sometimes known as healing gardens, are beneficial to individuals living with or without special educational needs. These gardens offer a variety of plants which appeal to all of the senses and promote positive reactions to new sights, sounds, smells and touch.
It’s an odd thing to say I have a kinship with plants, but I DO! They are magical. Want some magic in your life? Grab any kind of seed from your local home improvement store and plant it with a little dirt in a tiny paper cup or empty egg carton. Give the seed a little light, a little water and a lot of patience. The day it sprouts, you will experience the magic! As your plant grows, share cuttings with your friends. You will be amazed at the magic plants create in your life.
There is a quote that comes to mind when I catch my priorities shifting and I am no longer caring for myself, my plants and the Earth. It comes from a fellow member of the Kentucky Wild Ones Chapter, a chapter of the national organization that studies and fights to preserve native plants for the health of our state.
“No matter what you encounter in the years to come, do not forget to look above at the sky and marvel at the clouds and the stars… Look about and note the individuality of every tree - the architecture of its branches, texture of its bark, venation of its leaves. All these things may be oblivious of us, but we do not need to be oblivious of them. This is what we belong to, and what grounds our sense of self.”
Anne Lubber
That, I believe, is magic! Plants remind us to pause and appreciate the details around us. So, what are you still doing here? Go plant a seed. Then, go share the magic of plants with the world!
Charles Hall, Melinda Knuth; An Update of the Literature Supporting the Well-Being Benefits of Plants: A Review of the Emotional and Mental Health Benefits of Plants. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 1 March 2019; 37 (1): 30–38.
Elsevier. (2012, April 19). The influence of sensory gardens on the behaviour of children with special educational needs. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S187704281200835X?token=C22C57413BFBC5B6367119D246E1E6740D2E7C055871565963437AC8B4D5D05C68A8864E55807FF12D46E462346C4B9B&originRegion=us-east-1&originCreation=20221201165408
How Plants Survived Chernobyl. Science. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://www.science.org/content/article/how-plants-survived-chernobyl
Sweet Grass has a pretty sweet history of health and Wellness. Beekman 1802. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://beekman1802.com/blogs/almanac/sweet-grass-has-a-pretty-sweet-history-of-health-and-wellness
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What does spiritual well-being look like?
Amanda Lykins, DNP, RN-BC
Spiritual well-being is having a meaningful and purpose-filled life. Spirituality not only involves a belief and faith but also can offer hope and a will to live. What does spiritual well-being look like for you? This can be different for everyone.
Finding meaning and purpose is not something you find overnight, in a day, in a month, or even a year but may-be a lifelong process that evolves based on your unique circumstances and individual experiences. Throughout life, an individual’s level of spiritual well-being may fluctuate.
Experiencing emotions is a natural response as you navigate your individual journey to spiritual well-being. Those reactions may be both positive (hope and joy) and negative (fear, doubt, and disappointment).
Individuals who practice and are aware of their spiritual well-being are self-accepting, can find meaning and purpose in their lives, display a positive outlook, and have a strong sense of self-worth with feelings of harmony. Individuals who may need to reexamine their spiritual well-being may experience anxiety, a loss of meaning, self-judgment, apathy, and conflicting values. The individual may think they need to improve themselves.
Take a moment to personally reflect on the following questions:
- What gives my life meaning and purpose?
- Do I have a well-defined sense of purpose and meaning?
- What gives me hope?
- How do I get through tough times? Where do I find comfort?
- Am I accepting of other people’s views about life issues?
- Do I make attempts to expand my awareness of different ethnic, racial, and religious groups?
- Do I make time for relaxation in my day?
- Do I make time for meditation and/or prayer?
- Do my values guide my decisions and actions?
Each individual is different in how they approach, develop, and practice their spiritual wellness. There is not a “one size fits all” approach to this dimension of wellness.
Your journey to spiritual wellness may involve the following:
- Practicing meditation or yoga
- Praying or taking part in organized religion
- Spending quiet time alone pondering the meaning of life
- Building awareness through journaling
- Serving your community, spending time in nature, appreciating music and the arts
UK HealthCare Integrative Medicine & Health:
Purdy, M., & Supey, P. (2005). Holistic flow model of spiritual wellness. Counseling & Values, 49(2), 95–106. https://doi-org.ezproxy.uky.edu/10.1002/j.2161-007X.2005.tb00256.x
Savolaine, J., & Granello, P. F. (2002). The function of meaning and purpose for individual wellness. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education & Development, 41(2), 178–189. https://doi-org.ezproxy.uky.edu/10.1002/j.2164-490X.2002.tb00141.x
Robert, T. E., Young, J. S., & Kelly, V. A. (2006). Relationships between adult workers’ spiritual well-being and job satisfaction: A preliminary study. Counseling & Values, 50(3), 165–175. https://doi-org.ezproxy.uky.edu/10.1002/j.2161-007X.2006.tb00053.x
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Overwhelmed? Keep Your Boat Steady.
Bassema Abu-Farsakh
Overwhelmed? BH WELL's very own Bassema Abu-Farsakh relates to feeling overwhelmed as a wife, parent, graduate student, and student worker. This video shares practical tips to help keep our boats steady as we cope with day-to-day stress.
Are you overwhelmed? I am at times. I wear MANY hats. I’m a wife, mom, graduate student, and student worker. It is easy to become overwhelmed. There have been days I felt like I was dragging pieces of myself from place to place, existing rather than thriving. I barely make it through classes. I arrive home only to realize I forgot what my kids’ faces look like! (Well, okay, almost forgot.) But wait, it’s time to manage dinner and homework, and say hello to my husband. No wonder my kids want my attention and no wonder I end up with short nerves. This day easily repeated, like Groundhog’s Day, simply because I could not fully manage or cope with my stress. I was stuck.
Every person on earth has challenges in life but the good news is that there ARE ways to carry all these pieces and find balance. I love this saying, “Sometimes we cannot control the wind, but we can direct the sail.” However, when we are stressed, what we need at the moment may be just to keep our boat steady!
Here are some ways I have found help me deal with day-to-day stress. Feel free to pick one or two of your favorites to help your boat get back to steady!
- No one in the world is perfect. So accept your strengths and weaknesses as they are and appreciate yourself.
- FORGIVE yourself and LEARN from your mistakes.
- STOP comparing yourself with other people. You are unique.
- Always believe there is something GOOD in everyone as well as in YOU.
- Celebrate your achievements, small or big! The sense of success becomes real when you do what you enjoy (watch a nice movie, dance, or hang out with a friend)
- Do not spend time thinking about what other people think of you. Value yourself.
- When possible, surround yourself with POSITIVE people and LIMIT TIME with negative people.
- Find the POSITIVE side in any life event. Even if something horrible happens, we can always learn and grow through it.
- Find positive ways to EXPRESS your emotion (writing, singing, or watching a movie).
- Balance your day by keeping a TO DO list. Set time limits for work tasks. Include flexibility in your day along with time for loved ones.
- Schedule a routine BREAK to refuel (exercise, play with your kids or pets, go for a walk, practice deep breathing, or take a day nap).
- BE MINDFUL, just focus on the moment and press pause on the stresses of life.
- SMILE! There is great power in smiling! It actually increases energy and eliminates stress.
- FORGIVE others. I know it is not an easy task. However, the power of forgiveness can bring joy, harmony, and peace to you and your family.
Haun, V. C., Nübold, A., & Bauer, A. G. (2018). Being mindful at work and at home: Buffering effects in the stressor–detachment model. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 91(2), 385-410.
Kraft, T. L., & Pressman, S. D. (2012). Grin and bear it: The influence of manipulated facial expression on the stress response. Psychological science, 23(11), 1372-1378.
Rasmussen, K. R., Stackhouse, M., Boon, S. D., Comstock, K., & Ross, R. (2019). Meta-analytic connections between forgiveness and health: the moderating effects of forgiveness-related distinctions. Psychology & health, 34(5), 515-534.
Bassema Abu-Farsakh is a registered nurse with expertise in psychiatric and medical-surgical nursing, a wife, a mom of two boys, a graduate nursing student, a graduate research assistant, and a real person who enjoys keeping her boat steady.
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Tips For Taking A Mental Health Play Day
Lee Anne Walmsley, PhD, EdS, MSN, RN
As you may have heard, “Mental health isn’t about having days to escape life, it’s about living the kind of life where you don’t feel the need to escape.” What better way to live your best life than to allow yourself play days!
Prepare for your mental health play day by getting a refreshing night’s sleep… Set an intention late in the afternoon to “look forward” to an evening of relaxation in preparation for sleep.
You might:
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Take a slow walk and look at your surroundings
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Read a book of short stories or poetry
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Color using pencils or crayons
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Write or journal listing 2-3 things you are thankful for and why
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Enjoy a relaxing bath.
Then… set your phone to a “NOPE!” setting if possible. Many phones can be set to “do not disturb” or “silent” mode which can support your restful sleep.
Hopefully, you will wake refreshed and feel ready to enjoy your mental health play day! Give yourself permission to take a break from your daily responsibilities and ponder what exciting and amazing things you might want to “get into!” Pick out your most comfortable outfit, your “play” clothes for the day, and find your own special “playground.”
Suggestions for Play Day Activities:
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Hydrate with plenty of water
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Nourish yourself with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
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Indulge in a ‘treat’ of your choosing – maybe chocolate or ice-cream
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Take a long walk, hit the gym, swim, dance (like no one is watching) or any other activity of your choice
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Paint, color or create a piece of artwork to express yourself
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Watch a movie or episode of your favorite show
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Call a friend to say hello
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Write a letter or send a card to your favorite person
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Play with your pets/furry animals
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Enjoy solitude or organize a (COVID-19 friendly) get together to celebrate your special day.
Whatever you decide to do… or if you decide to take the opportunity to stay in bed ALL DAY, it’s your choice, your day… to PLAY and take care of your mental health and wellbeing. Ask yourself what you need to be kind to yourself and then trust yourself and DO IT!
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Musical Expression
Silas Deane
Silas Deane is the artist who created the theme music for BH WELL videos and other resources on our website. He is a musician and a producer. In this video, Silas discusses the key role that emotions play in music creation. Silas says he is not outwardly emotional but his emotions come through in his music. Music resonates with us on a deeper level than we even know how to communicate. In this video, he plays an impromptu tune that expresses his calm and excitement at the time of filming. He describes the dichotomy of chaos and order present in music that is mirrored in our minds. This dance of chaos and order allows for emotional expression in music. For a related article on the topic of music and emotions, click here.
Chloe: Hi and welcome to the BH WELL video blog. I'm Chloe Robertson, your host. BH WELL stands for Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning. Today on the blog we have with us Silas Deane, a musician and producer. He just happens to be the artist who composed the BH WELL music you hear on our video blogs and other products on our website. Hi Silas.
Silas: Hey Chloe, thanks for having me on here.
Silas: Yeah. I think I've always been interested in music, I think it resonates with us on a deeper level than we even know how to communicate. But my first memorable experience with music was when I was six years old I found my dad's Van Halen album in the car and thought that was the coolest thing I've ever heard when I heard him play guitar. And so I asked my parents for a guitar when I was six and they gave me a cheap little $100 thing, they didn't think I'd play. And you know the rest is history. I have continued playing from then on out. I think what makes music so cool in my personal experience is the ability for music to take chaos and turn it into order. I think it's kind of built on that Dallas dichotomy of, you know, where there are infinite possibilities of things that can happen. Music can take that and transfer it into something that we can all relate to at a fundamental level. I think that's why it resonates with us. At least that’s why I think it resonates with me.
Silas: Well personally, I'm not a very emotional person on the outside. But I think what's cool is the emotion that comes out when playing is something that you don't even think about consciously. For example, when you're playing a guitar solo, the notes just play themselves. Once you get to a certain level of playing, and I think most people who play a good amount of time would tell you this, you really can get the emotion to come out when you're not thinking about what the emotion is that you're putting into it. So once you step back and let it take over, it comes out in ways that you're not even consciously aware of.
Silas: Yeah, of course. I also brought a loop pedal so it's going to just loop some chords I'm going to play. I'll just go on top and I guess we'll find out what emotion I'm feeling. *Plays music*
Silas: To me I kind of felt a sense of calm. I'm not really stressed out, just happy being here. Also kind of a little reflective, you know. That’s at least what I got, what did you get out of it?
Chloe: Yeah it wasn't like sad, but it was more of like a happy calm. But not like an extremely happy.
Silas: Yeah, I think that's what's so cool about music; Because it's subjective, you might feel something totally different than I might feel. It's not that it’s wrong, there's no wrong answer. That's what's so cool about it.
Silas: Yeah definitely. When I was at school all the time, I would get super stressed out and would just revert back to music. I would throw it on a loop and start playing guitar. It brings out those kinds of emotions that I didn't really know were there sometimes. It made me feel better at the end, for lack of a better term I guess. I don't know how to describe it. I would revert to it sometimes when I would get stressed or sad about a breakup or something and the emotion that would come out would be really interesting and I wouldn't even know I'm thinking it.
Silas: I think it kind of goes back to what I said earlier about the dichotomy between chaos and order. Whereas there are infinite places where I can play on this guitar, but out of that, it creates some kind of structure. The human emotion aspect of it kind of relates to everybody, that it's expressing something that we all feel on the inside but don't really know that we're feeling it. Regardless of whether you know what you're thinking, it relates to us at a fundamental level.
Silas: Definitely that you should learn how to play an instrument! But I know that's not easy for everybody. It takes a lot of time and a lot of work to really master something. Listening to new music, listening to instrumental music, and trying to figure out the conversation that's happening there on a deeper level than just what the popular music conveys.
Chloe: Thank you Silas for sharing with us your love of music and your passion.
Silas: Thanks for having me.
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To calculate the percent weight reduction required to achieve minimal clinically important improvement (MCII) in health-related quality of life (HRQOL)…
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