Wellness Wave Wisdom

  Do you want to help other students? Do you think there should be no shame or embarrassment in seeking support? Would you like to explore a potential career in mental health or health education? Consider joining the Health Services team as a Peer Educator! The time to apply is NOW! Apply online here - due Friday 9/3/21. Interviews (by invitation) will be Wednesday, 9/8, 1pm-3pm, and Monday, 9/13, 11am-1pm. Students will be notified of acceptance the week of the 13th. Still want to know more?  Save the date for one of two info-sessions, Thursday, 8/26/21 at 5pm OR Tuesday, 8/31/21 at 3pm, Zoom link here or use: 995 5114 7359, password: PEERS. Tell me the details ! Location: On campus (primarily virtual with occasional, optional opportunity for outside, socially distanced service) Time Commitment: 15 to 30* hours/semester (option for more if desired) *15 hours is the minimum, 30 hours required by some classes, including the social work certificate. Ideal Students: Interested in explor

Sleep Hygiene TIPS  FROM  MENTAL  HEALTH  COUNSELOR JAYA  ROY,  M. A.,  A. S. W. WHAT  IS  SLEEP  HYGIENE? Sleep hygiene is a series of practices and habits that cue your mind and body to relax and prepare for sleep. It's most effective when practiced daily. Common sleep hygiene tips are: Limit naps, caffeine intake, and screen time (especially screen time 1-2 hours before bed). Do something physical in your day. Wake up and go to bed about the same time every day.  Aim for 7- 8 hours of sleep. Have a comfortable sleeping environment (i.e. keep temperature about 65 degrees, and have a comfy pillow and mattress). Have a soothing bedtime routine and make it your own! Part 1 of  The Soothing  Bedtime Routine: 1 hour-2 hours before bedtime UNLOAD  BUT  DON'T  PROCESS You can write down your to-do's and things to remember as well as thoughts or feelings into a planner and/or journal. However don't spend time trying to dig deep into your emotions, this is just to get whatever

  COVID Vaccine Q&A By Kim Marquardt, MSN-RN, Director of Health Services *The following information was accumulated to the best of my knowledge and understanding with the research I have done. Please consult your medical provider for more information and before making any healthcare decisions. How did the vaccine development happen so fast? The lengthy process in the development of vaccines mostly has to do with the length of time it takes to conduct the clinical trials - specifically to recruit participants, and then wait for those participants (who were either vaccinated or given a placebo) to naturally be exposed to the disease and collect data on level of immunity in the vaccinated group. Before COVID, every vaccine developed was done so for diseases that were relatively rare plus it was difficult to get participants for the clinical trials in general. With COVID, the disease was very widespread (meaning lots of people were being exposed all the time), and individuals were ve

  By Abby Burd, LCSW, full time Mental Health Counselor and Peer Educator Coordinator. Student Health Services believes strongly that everyone benefits from having a safe and confidential place to talk. The Peer Educators are current MiraCosta College students who share our passion. They are a bridge between students and Health Services and help share the message that it is okay to not be okay, it's okay to ask for help, and with help, there is hope. Our Peer Educators also happen to be creative and talented. A few of our Peer Educators, including Yesenia, Alexa, Alexandria and Esther, started a podcast! Listen here on Spotify . The first three episodes are currently up. Episode one introduces the Peer Educator program. Hear about it from the student perspective and meet some of the spring and fall 2021 Peers.  Episode two takes a deeper dive into COVID and how the pandemic has impacted the lives and mental health of community college students. Episode three highlights healthy ways

By Tanya D’Angelo, APCC. Photo credit: Unsplash.com by Alisa Anton It’s natural to feel stress, although some stress is helpful, and some stress can be draining. Many of us often find quick relief in drinking, smoking, endless scrolling, and other methods. They work in the short-term but can cause other issues long-term. Want to learn some healthier tools? If you feel stress weighing you down, it may be a good time to take a Self-Compassion Break, which comes from Kristen Neff's Mindful Self Compassion program. There are three components to a Self-Compassion Break. First, notice your struggle , otherwise known as mindfulness Just as you would notice if a close friend was having an off day, take the time to notice when you are struggling, even if it is seemingly minor. Turning toward yourself just as you would a good friend is an important step in caring for yourself. Second, recognize you are not alone While not everyone can understand exactly what you are dealing with, str