Self-Care is the Best Care!

On Friday, May 16^th, I had the honor of meeting Dr. James Gordon; a Harvard educated psychiatrist, and a world-renowned expert in using mind-body medicine to heal depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma. He is the Founder and Director of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, and served as Chairman of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. He also served as the first Chair of the Program Advisory Council of the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Alternative Medicine and is a former member of the Cancer Advisory Panel on Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the NIH. Dr. Gordon has devoted over 40 years to the exploration and practice of mind-body medicine.

In his book, Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven-Stage Journey Out of Depression,Dr. Gordon states that depression is not an end point, a disease over which we have no control. It is a sign that our lives are out of balance, that we are stuck. It’s a wake-up call and the start of a journey that can help us become whole and happy, one that can change and transform our lives.

My journey through depression is a testament to Dr. Gordon’s wisdom. I find it fascinating that me, a woman with no clinical expertise, and Dr. Gordon, a Harvard trained psychiatrist and world-renowned expert in mind-body medicine have both arrived at the same realization that holistic practices such as breath work, meditation, nutrition, exercise/movement, nurturing relationships, sleep and social support are very effective in promoting mental health and wellness. Self-care is the best care!