Relationship Between Health & Mental Health
We all know the impact of physical health on emotional well-being. Did you know that your mood can also affect your health? For example, sleep patterns. If you experience any difficulty with sleep onset or staying asleep, you may find yourself becoming more anxious at night (perhaps anticipating lack of sleep, ruminating about the day past, feeling regret or disappointment in life decisions or experiences, etc.); the anxiety then propels further sleeplessness. Insomnia can subsequently cause high blood pressure, heart disease, poor physical health, diabetes, obesity, weakened immune system and lower sex drive.
Here are some helpful tips you can prioritize at home to reset your mind and improve mood:
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a proper diet
• Avoid alcohol and drugs
• Eliminate smoking
• Get adequate sleep
• Try relaxation techniques
• Remove additional or unnecessary stressors
• Seek help from others
Mental Health Services at Astera Cancer Care
For some patients, making small changes like these is easy. Others require professional support. Astera Cancer Care has expanded our services to provide individual and family psychotherapy to help improve mood, reduce anxiety, increase self-care, and address any barriers that impede you from feeling your best.
How It Works:
• Insurance: Worried about insurance coverage? Check with your insurance carrier if psychotherapy is included in your plan. Psychotherapy visits will be billed the same as your provider visits - you will be responsible for the copay; your insurance covers the service if psychotherapy is included in your insurance plan.
• Duration: You will meet with your designated clinician for 10 weeks (minimum). At that time, you and your Clinical Social Worker will review psychotherapy treatment goals and progress to date.
• Time Slot: Individual psychotherapy sessions are 1⁄2 hour. Family sessions are 1 hour.
• Consistency: Psychotherapy is most helpful when you meet consistently. Your designated Clinical Social Worker will work with you to schedule a weekly time slot that works for you to ensure consistency. If you find that the mutually-agreed upon schedule is not working, let your Clinical Social Worker know! We are here for you.
• Locations: As with all medical appointments, telehealth option is available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your Clinical Social Worker will also have dedicated days and times at each location for your convenience. If you prefer, we can aim to wrap your psychotherapy sessions around your existing office visits.
If you would like more information on our psychotherapy services, please contact Neshama Marcus, Director of Social Work, at 732-853-1038 or social.work@asterahealthcare.org.