Health and Wellness

by Dr. Phillip Fourie

We live in a world of increasing demand, stress and pressure for individuals to perform to higher levels and reach optimum goals, in our modern society. World events including terrorism, war and poverty put extra demands on people's day-to-day living.

The important question needs to be asked:

Does being without an illness equal health and wellness?

The general public defines health as "feeling well and not being sick". We commonly think about health in terms of absence of objective signs that the body is functioning properly (i.e. normal blood pressure) or subjective symptoms of disease or injury such as pain or nausea. (Birren and Zarit, 1985).

According to Myers, Sweeney and Witmer (2000) wellness can be defined as: "a way of life orientated towards optimum health and wellbeing in which body, mind and spirit are integrated in the individual to live more fully within the human and natural community". Health can be defined as a positive state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and not simply the absence of and illness. (Caltabiano and Sarafino, 2002, WHO, 1946).

Health, wellness and illness vary over time along a continuum.

The Wellness/Illness Continuum

During the next few months, the articles will focus on reaching a state of optimal health. How to change our lives by implementing proactive behaviours that leads to achieving one's own potential and the prevention of illness through healthy lifestyle.

By looking at each individual as a biopsychosocial being and therefore using a holistic approach every aspect of a human live is covered.

To achieve optimal health and wellness the following factors need to be balanced in an individual's life:

Stress management, a sense of worth, a sense of control, a sense of humour, a realistic belief system, emotional awareness and management, problem solving capability and creativity, nutrition, exercise, self-care and gender and cultural identity.

(Myer, Sweeney and Witmer, 2000).

These factors will be covered in more details in next issue of The Herbalist Newsletter.

Article provided by:

Natural Health Concepts - click here -

Dr. Phillip Fourie is a lecturer at Bond University. He also practices in his private clinic providing Counselling Services and studies for his Doctorate of Counselling. He works in an advisory capacity for The Herbalist and provides a regular column and News articles for their Newsletter .