Last Thursday in the Collective we chatted with Adam Wilson, PhD, on all things psychopharmacology and mental health.

This post talks about the application of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory Model to an individual’s mental health and wellness.

So in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we’re taking a somewhat unexpected turn in discussing how to cultivate our relationship with ourselves… because, what could be more loving than that?

Prochaska and DiClemente's (1983) Stages of Change Model describes five stages that people go through on their way to change: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.

We are masters at overcomplicating our health and wellness. This is because overcomplicating keeps us from making a change. You see, our brains are hardwired to resist change. So much so that part of the brain — the amygdala— interprets change as a threat, releasing hormones for fight or flight to prevent change from happening. This is because our brain’s main goal is to keep us safe, and change can be extremely risky.

When we first wake up in the morning, our brain waves move states. Delta waves, which occur during a deep sleep state, switch to theta waves, which occur during a relaxed state of mind and are essential to rejuvenation and healing. Following theta waves, the brain then moves to produce alpha waves. This is when we are awake and relaxed, not processing much information or overwhelming our senses.

Boundaries.

There is a reason this term is a buzzword.

We all know we need them, yet they can take so much willpower, and therefore, energy, for us to not only implement but also to follow through with. This can cause resistance in the strongest sense of the word.

But what if we could acknowledge that resistance while reminding ourselves of the true necessity of boundaries? I wonder if there might be a bit more incentive to do the work required for a healthier self.