“I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once." ~Jennifer Yane
Wellness
You’re having to make an unbelievable number of decisions about your life, how you will live, and what shape your community will take. Some of you have had to take new jobs in new towns. You have experienced the loss of friends and family members.
You’re doing your best to take it one day at a time. But some days have been pretty overwhelming.
What this section of the website offers . . .
Our intention for the Wellness section of the website is to be a place where you can come to get ideas for how to take good care of yourself as you deal with the decisions and changes you are facing. Think of it as an oasis, a place where you can visit for a moment to get refreshed. Or as a station where you can fill up your tank with fuel for the next part of your life’s journey.
On this page we offer words of encouragement and support. We’ll share ideas that have worked for other people as they play the hands that life has dealt them. We’ll hear from people who’ve counseled other folks who have survived catastrophic events and who have come out the other side, thriving.
We’d love to hear from you . . .
We ask your input for this page, too. What are you doing that is helping you feel better? What advice would you give your neighbors who are having a difficult time coping? Has anyone given you advice that has made a difference?
You can either leave your advice here on the website (see the community forum section), or you can call me (Catherine at 620-549-3752) and I’ll write it up for you to share here with your neighbors.
We’ll have the advice all in one place and just keep adding to it. So if you ever need to “fuel up”, just come to this page.
A reminder . . .
It WILL get easier with time. You are doing an amazing job of dealing with an enormous amount of loss. Each of you has your own unique way of handling the aftermath of May 4. Give yourself lots of credit that you are doing the absolute best you can. If it’s too overwhelming to handle the fall-out from the tornado by yourself, please take the step of asking for help. We all need help from time to time. That’s what we are in each other’s lives for. If you don’t know who to call to ask for help, contact us and we’ll connect you with resources.
Wellness Resources
In addition to the local mental health care and traditional health care services being offered to residents, we wanted to introduce you to some options that could help you during this time of transition in your life.
This list is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather an introduction to possibilities. If you’d like more information about any of the following areas, please email or call Catherine at Greensburg GreenTown: catherine@greensburggreentown.org ◊ 620-549-3752
If you’d like to recommend practitioners who aren’t listed here, please contact us.
Here are some resources to soothe and support you:
MASSAGE THERAPY
Massage therapy is not only a part of many physical rehabilitation programs, it also has also proven beneficial for many chronic conditions, including low back pain, arthritis, bursitis, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, smoking cessation, depression, and more. And, as many millions will attest, massage also helps relieve the stress and tension of everyday living that can lead to disease and illness. Massage therapy is also excellent for individuals with anxiety or depression, and for anyone recovering from trauma.
There are several wonderful local massage therapists in the area:
Greensburg resident Glenda Nichols works out of Sherry’s Salon on Main Street in Pratt on Mondays and Thursdays, by appointment ◊ 620-672-1892
Lela Marsh ◊ Pratt ◊ 672-3622 ◊ Lela offers both chair massage (1/2 hour or hour-long) and traditional massage on the table.
Therapeutic Massage of Pratt: Cheryl Kumburg - 672-1128; Julie Russell - 672-7800; Hannah Thimesch - 672-8360
Katina Griffith ◊ Stafford ◊ 620-770-2377 ◊ Katina’s training includes Chinese medicine-based applications.
If visiting a certified massage therapist is not your cup of tea, having a friend or family member work out some of your kinks is another option. It’s very easy to give a head or shoulder rub and make a big difference in stress levels and muscle tightness. Relief is right at your fingertips!
Here’s a link to an on-line video that demonstrates at-home massage:
www.videojug.com/film/how-to-give-neck-and-shoulder-massage
You can also search this site for “massage” and you’ll find that a couple of dozen other videos are available.
You might consider massaging your own hands, feet, face, etc. if there are no helpers around. Your body will thank you for the attention.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Some of the benefits of a chiropractic adjustment can include: recovery from trauma, stress reduction, relief from headaches, enhancement of immune system, increased energy, improved sleep, greater flexibility, and emotional calm.
Bill Eastes ◊ Pratt ◊ 620-672-3638
Brent Haskell ◊ Southwest Kinesiology ◊ Dodge City ◊ 620-225-9922 or 1-800-318-1157
Coldwater Chiropractic Center ◊ 866-805-7911
Davis Chiropractic Center ◊ Pratt ◊ 620-672-3731
Bruce Kempton ◊ Pratt ◊ 620-672-7443
Smith Chiropractic Wellness ◊ Pratt ◊ 620-672-5601
Brandon Trost ◊ Coldwater ◊ 620-582-2060
ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is considered a holistic approach to curing disorders and discomfort in the body. The medical community has increasingly come to accept this treatment, and a growing number of medical schools include acupuncture training in their curricula.
Acupuncture has been found to offer the following benefits: pain relief, relief from anxiety and depression, faster recovery time, improvement in circulation, reduction of symptoms related to stress, relief from allergies and congestion.
Bill Eastes ◊ Pratt ◊ 620-672-3638
Dr. Qizhi Gao ◊ Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor ◊ Wichita ◊ 316-691-8811
YOGA
More and more people are turning to yoga for its health benefits. It is very effective in relieving such conditions as back pain, sciatica, muscle tension, and stiffness. It is also helpful in enhancing breathing, sleeping, peace of mind, posture, circulation, and metabolism.
Nat’s Yoga and Dance Studio ◊ Nat Shriver ◊ Dodge City ◊ 620-408-9536 ◊ www.natsyogastudio.netfirms.com
PERSONAL COACHING
If you’re looking for help with goal setting, personal coaching can be helpful. It differs from counseling in several ways. It is not designed to deal with the client’s psychological pain or emotional healing issues. Rather, the coach will work with you to set life goals and enhance your life satisfaction in the areas of career, education, health and relationships. A coach relates to clients as partners. Coaches can work over the phone, by email, or in person.
Jane Hardy ◊ 801-879-0300 ◊ www.satoricoaching.com ◊ Jane is also a licensed social worker.
The International Coach Federation can hook you up with one of its member coaches: www.coachfederation.org
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT
While of course it’s always wise to care deeply for your body’s needs, it’s especially important during times of stress and transition. Your body has to work harder, and many people rely on supplements and herbs to help them weather difficult times.
We are very fortunate to have a great resource in our area:
Carolyn Simpson ◊ Bee Well Herbs & Natural Foods ◊ 122 S. Main St. ◊ Pratt ◊ 620-672-6625
HEALTHY DIET & EXERCISE
The old stand-bys serve us well during times of stress. The fewer highly-processed foods you consume, the easier it is on your system. Our bodies thrive on whole fresh foods, including fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Try these area sources:
Fresh Essence Farms (organic foods) ◊ Jan & Dave Turner ◊ Stafford ◊ 620-546-4172
R & C Vegetables (greenhouse) ◊ Rob & Candace Lattin ◊ Iuka ◊ 620-546-2269
AREA MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS
South Central Kansas Tornado Recovery Organization ◊ Rev. Kathleen Blair ◊ 620-862-5882 ◊
spiritual and psychological counseling referrals for grief and post-traumatic stress issues
Lighthouse Worship Center ◊ Christa Zapfe ◊ support groups and individual counseling ◊ 620-770-9736
Iroquois Center for Human Development ◊ 620-723-2272 ◊ serving the mental health needs of the residents of Clark , Comanche, Edwards & Kiowa Counties
Kansas All Hazards Behavioral Health ◊ 1-800-575-2038 ◊ email: kahbh@ksu.edu crisis counseling for residents affected by the tornado, and for responders needing support (KAHBH is a joint program of KSU , KS Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services, and KS Department of Health & the Environment.)
Anne Mitchell, LSCSW ◊ Haviland ◊ 620-635-5213 ◊ Anne is a licensed social worker who has 10 years’ experience in community mental health in the area. For the clients she sees in her private practice, Anne offers appointments on Wednesdays in her office at Barclay College .