The Effects Of Physical Health On Mental Health

787 Words2 Pages

Through many experiences, I have developed a fascination with the concept that an individual’s health and wellness are deeply rooted in a complex interconnection of the mind, body, and environment. My goal is to improve peoples’ mental and physical well-being using a holistic approach involving this interconnection. I wish to provide wellness services to the public by obtaining skills and knowledge and eventually creating an entrepreneurial health-promoting business. I am most interested in the field of health behavior because it will provide me with the skills that are essential to my achievement of my long-term goals. I want to obtain a better understanding of health education as well as human behavior on individual and group levels so that I may better understand clients’ needs and produce solutions for them.
In my college Biopsychology and Health Psychology courses, I discovered a passion for these topics. They inspired me to deeply investigate the effects of physical health on mental health and vice versa, through research and experimentation for my senior thesis. I completed my thesis on the short-term effects of meditation and progressive muscle relaxation on cognitive functioning and mood. I learned about the effects of relaxation techniques on mental and physical health. I discovered that there are many therapeutic alternatives that can be used as either healthier replacements for pharmaceuticals or as co-treatments with pharmaceuticals to bolster their effectiveness.
My 2014 internship with the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board further developed my interest in the field of public health. I worked as a mental health and substance abuse case manager assistant. My job included completing necessary paperwork as w...

... middle of paper ...

...successful business, but I may also succeed in discovering innovative solutions for improving health.
My interest in the interconnection of the mind, body, and environment is one that will continue to grow. I am passionate about cultivating wellness in others as well as about continuously accumulating knowledge so as to provide the highest quality of care. I am confident in the wisdom and success that the Health Behavior program at UNC Chapel Hill would lead me to. My grandfather, Thomas Lane Stokes, attended UNC Chapel Hill and became a renowned vascular surgeon. My aunt, Ann Stokes, also attended UNC Chapel Hill and is currently a successful landscape architect. My conversation with Dr. Golin regarding the Health Behavior program have further established my interest in attending. I sincerely hope to have the privilege to be challenged and learn at this institution.

Open Document