Happy Friday!
Most of us are happy when Friday rolls around, and part of that is because our jobs can be stressful. COVID has certainly added an extra layer of stress for all of us.
It’s hard to be your best self if you’re feeling tired, anxious, tense, or distracted. But those are some of the physical and mental symptoms of stress, and they all take a toll on your overall health.
Here’s a link to a guide designed to help you manage stress more effectively.
The guide explains how stress affects you, and offers positive ways to deal with it. There is also an interesting interactive stress assessment tool and a good TED Talk on how stress affects your body.
Here’s to a less stressful week – and a relaxing weekend!
Here at Mendocino Coast Clinics (MCC), we care about your health. In fact, your health is our mission!
Good nutrition is one of the most important building blocks of good health. But if you have lost income due to the pandemic or are on a fixed income, it may be difficult to stretch your budget to buy healthy, fresh food, like fruit and vegetables.
At the weekly Fort Bragg & Mendocino Certified Farmers Markets, so you can buy locally grown, fresh fruit and vegetables from your neighbors year-round. The Fort Bragg Market is at the corner of Laurel and Franklin every Wednesday from 2:00 to 5:30 pm.
The Farmers’ Market not only accepts EBT (food stamps), they also match your food stamps, up to $15. So, if you spend $15 in EBT, you receive an extra $15 in market tokens to spend on fresh fruit and vegetables at the Market!
Under new guidelines, you may be now be eligible for CalFresh even if you receive SSI. Not sure if you qualify for CalFresh, or other state and federal programs that may help you to stay healthier and happier? MCC has Patient Advocates on staff to help you find out if you qualify. This service is completely free and confidential. Just call us at (707) 964-1251 to make an appointment. MCC is here to help!
The teen years can be wonderful, full of exciting changes and growth. But they can also be really confusing, especially when it comes to things like dating and relationships. Here at MCC, we believe in self-empowerment and healthy relationships. Everyone is deserving of a healthy, loving relationship.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Do you have questions about dating, or wonder how healthy your relationship is? Click here for some real answers to real questions about dating:
https://www.loveisrespect.org/about-dating/dating-101/
Are you wondering if you are a good partner to your loved one? Take the quiz here and find out:
https://www.loveisrespect.org/quiz/am-i-a-good-partner/?%3E
Or click here to see if you are in a healthy relationship:
https://www.loveisrespect.org/…/is-your-relationship-heal…/…
Teens can find out more at loveisrepect.org, or text Blue Door @MCC at (707) 513-7575 with questions about relationships or to make an appointment to talk about what’s happening in your life. We are here for you!
It feels like we have been struggling with COVID forever. And if it feel that way for an adult, it’s even more difficult for a child. As parents, we sometimes don’t know what to say when our children are upset, or scared, or hurting. Here are some ideas to help you help your child through this challenging time:
If you need some extra help, MCC’s therapists are here for you and your child. We have therapists who are bilingual and specialize in caring for children. Just give us a call at 961-3492 to make an appointment. We are here for you!
Many of us are feeling anxious, stressed or overwhelmed these days. Here are some coping strategies to try from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America:
???? ? ????-???. Practice yoga, listen to music, meditate, get a massage, or take a walk around the block. Stepping back from the problem helps clear your head.
??? ????-???????? ?????. Try not to skip any meals, and keep healthful, energy-boosting snacks on hand.
??? ?????? ?????. When stressed, your body needs additional sleep and rest.
???????? ????? to help you feel good and maintain your health.
???? ???? ???????. Inhale and exhale slowly. Count to 10 slowly. Repeat, and count to 20 if necessary.
?? ???? ????. Instead of aiming for perfection, which isn’t possible, be proud of however close you get.
?????? that you cannot control everything.
??????? ?????. A good laugh goes a long way.
???????? ? ???????? ????????. Make an effort to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
??? ????????. Volunteer or find another way to be active in your community, which creates a support network and gives you a break from everyday stress.
???? ?? ???????. Tell friends and family you’re feeling overwhelmed, and let them know how they can help you. Talk to a physician or therapist for professional help.
We are here for you at MCC! If you need to talk with one of our medical or behavioral health providers, give us a call at 964-1251.
Recently, one of our community partners, Karen Oslund, reminded us that cancer isn’t taking a break just because we’re in the midst of a pandemic. Karen is the executive director of the Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County and she has a front-row seat to the devastation cancer can cause for individuals and everyone who loves them.
Her comment got us thinking about how hard it is to convince ourselves that now is the time to do preventive care. Even in the best of times—and these are not the best of times—most of us are really good at coming up with reasons why we can wait until tomorrow or next week (or never) to make an appointment for our annual exam or a cancer screening we know we need. Until we have symptoms, we believe we’ll always have more time.
When the coronavirus hit last spring, many of us thought we’d hold our breath until it was over, figuratively speaking. Well, this is lasting longer than most of us expected, and putting life on hold until it’s over doesn’t seem like such a good strategy anymore.
With that in mind, if you have a little extra time on your hands, what better time to schedule an appointment than now? At Mendocino Coast Clinics, we can help you figure out how to afford the care you need, so don’t let that be a barrier.
During an annual check-up, a medical provider will review your family health history, your lifestyle, your age, your emotional state, and your physical condition. With this information, they can let you know which screenings you need and how to decrease your risk of developing chronic illnesses. The simple act of taking your vital signs allows a medical provider to determine whether you’re at risk for common diseases like hypertension. Routine screening serve an important purpose. There is strong science behind the reason that the recommendations are made.
There is no magic number to determine when you’ll start having health problems, but people older than 50 are at higher risk for many illnesses, so once you hit that age, it’s smart to keep an eye on things like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, colorectal health, and bone density, among other things. Men should also monitor their prostate function and women should become familiar with menopause symptoms. Your medical provider will likely also recommend getting vaccinated for the flu, pneumonia, and shingles.
If you’re thinking, “I feel fine. I don’t need to see a doctor,” you may be right; however, there are some serious health problems that can go undetected for a long time unless you’re looking for them. For example, many types of cancer don’t have noticeable symptoms until the cancer has spread. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, this is a great time for women to go get a mammogram. Most breast cancer, like many types of cancer, is highly treatable when discovered early. Hypertension is another condition that usually doesn’t exhibit symptoms until it has progressed to the point of putting patients at risk.
We’re living in stressful times right now. Why not schedule an appointment for an annual check-up to put your mind at ease and get the care you need to stay strong and healthy now and into the future?