Health Psychology and Healing.

A summary of some recent lessons from my Health Psychology class:

- Although most people are aware of the health benefits of exercise, a good diet, adequate sleep, etc, many people still fail to make these habits a part of their everyday life. Why? Likely due to personality, social pressures, social support system, attitude towards health, culture, habit, values, resources, etc. The motivation to work towards optimal health will come from the belief that the treatment or health protocol will bring value.

- Common reasons why people don't stick with healthy routines: the routine is inconvenient, difficult to remember, or complicated; people begin to feel a bit better and then stop their routine; people don't think that the state of their health is not severe; their set treatment plan is expensive or impractical.

- People are often confused about health because they are often bombarded by so many mixed sources of health information: people hear about health from their doctors, the Internet, television, newspapers, health magazines, health food store employees, nurses, dentists, family, friends, social organizations, universities, cultural beliefs, “old wives tales", and "common sense".

- On the topic of healing, my health psychology professor recommended the book Why People Don’t Heal and How they Can by Carolyn Myss, PhD. I hope to read this book in the future (hopefully during the summer when I have more time!).