Attention A T users. To access the menus on this page please perform the following steps. 1. Please switch auto forms mode to off. 2. Hit enter to expand a main menu option (Health, Benefits, etc). 3. To enter and activate the submenu links, hit the down arrow. You will now be able to tab or arrow up or down through the submenu options to access/activate the submenu links.

Whole Health

Menu
Menu
Quick Links
Veterans Crisis Line Badge
My healthevet badge
 

Living His Best Life with VA Whole Health

Veteran and Husband on beach.

Navy Veteran Rick Smith and his husband enjoying retirement and living their best life in Florida.

Thursday, June 17, 2021

The pandemic, health concerns and negative thinking combined led Veteran Rick Smith to the conclusion that he needed some help to get back to living his best life. Retired in Venice, Florida, Smith says he is surrounded by nature and wildlife, and of course beautiful beaches where he and his husband of 37 years enjoy life. Yet, there was some room for improvement that prompted Smith explore the Living Your Best Life class at the Sarasota VA Clinic.

“We met weekly and talked about all areas of health ranging from healthy eating to spirituality,” said Smith. He said he hadn’t realized how much the pandemic and some personal challenges had been affecting him until he was able to talk with the group virtually every week. “I was getting depressed on lock down and opening up in the group made life easier.”

Smith, who served in the Navy for six years, said that he discovered some new health tools and traded ideas with other members of the 15-person group. He has increased his water intake and has shared some of his healthy cooking suggestions with others. Food and drink are an important component of the Circle of Health, and Smith was happy to share his knowledge with the group.

One element of health he most enjoyed was the power of the mind sessions where he learned to manage negative thoughts. “The sessions taught us to live our best life with the conditions that we have,” he said. “I didn’t even realize how automatic the negative thinking had become. Now when negative thoughts come I ‘catch them, check them, and change them.’”

Working with Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Lindsey Higdon has made this process very helpful to Smith. “The VA here is outstanding and Lindsey is one of the best, I appreciate how well she does her job,” he said.

Through the program he last lost 12 pounds and says that he used to think he was in good shape, but now he knows he is. For those who are interested in Whole Health options but are skeptical, Smith encourages them to check out what is available, take what works, and leave what doesn’t. He will be soon starting a Mind-Body skills course that focuses on helping with exercise and managing his diabetes and he is looking forward to in-person whole health activities.

The Living Your Best Life offering is a 10-session group, with each session devoted to one area of the Whole Health Circle. The group is led by a Psychologist, Social Worker, Whole Health Coach, and other experts based on the topic (i.e., dietician, chaplain, Recreation Therapy). Each group will consist of education, a hands on/skill-based activity, and goal setting/motivational enhancement strategies to help you make meaningful and lasting behavior changes to support your Whole Health. A Women’s Live Your Best Life group is also offered.

While specific Whole Health classes may vary, every VA Medical Center provides an Introduction to Whole Health and other resources.

For more information on Whole Health and how you can get started on your journey, visit www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTH/index.asp.

Written by: Andrea Young, FIT Consultant, OPCC&CT

Share



Get Updates

Subscribe to Receive
Email Updates