INTEGRITY (N. ) – THE STATE OF BEING WHOLE, ENTIRE OR
UNDIMINISHED.
It is estimated 1 in 6 Americans over the age of 12 are taking an anti-depressant in 2017.
Females are more likely to take antidepressants than males. This number has increased
11% since 2008.
This begs the question, why is the incidence of mental health concerns on the rise?
As a previous sufferer of depression and anxiety, I am a firm believer in a naturopathic
approach to treatment. I cannot say enough for the benefit of individualized treatment
including nutrition, acupuncture, IV vitamin therapy and detailed blood work to determine
the underlying cause of health concerns.
Getting your mental health concerns addressed with the proper health care provider is a
must!! However, there are some bigger societal issues that need to be addressed with
these statistics on the rise! We live in a society where people are comparing their worst
moments to other’s highlight reel on social media. Although we have never been more
connected, through technology, people are feeling more alone. Few people feel integral.
Is your life reflecting your true values and who you want to be?
Here are some signs you might not be living with INTEGRITY:
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you are frustrated
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you take things personally
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promise yourself things, and fail to uphold them
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feeling numb, angry or indifferent
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low mood and libido
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you create problems for yourself and/or complain all the time
Because it is my personal mission to stop the depression epidemic, here are 3 tips to help
you start living your life with more integrity.
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GET HONEST WITH YOURSELF
Time for a little tough love. Cut the crap. Get rid of the drama. The fake friends. Anything or
anyone holding you back. Think hard about this… really hard. What is going on in your life
right now that is unnecessary? Get rid of it. Swipe, delete. Create space for something new,
and aligned with your values, to grow.
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DETERMINE YOUR ENDGAME
It is impossible not to feel distress and anxiety when you are haphazardly letting life happen
to you. We look for instant gratification, likes, fulfillment in the moment. But who has taken
the time to figure out what they really want out of life long term. This requires some soul
searching (check out Danielle Laporte’s Desire Map if this sounds foreign to you). Basically,
imagine the most incredibly fulfilling and fascinating version for your live. What does this
look like in 6 months. 1 year. 5 years. 10 years? Once you know this, you are half way
there. The other half comes from making daily decisions that reflect this vision – in your
personal and professional life.
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TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE
Ever hear anyone say “Why am I so great at giving other’s advice?”. That’s right, we are all
good at GIVING advice. Especially the advice we should be taking ourselves. One of my
favourite tips to give my patients (when you are in crisis, need consolation, feeling alone)
simply ask yourself – what advice would you give your closest friend? Listen to that. The
next time you are giving a friend advice, listen to that too.
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SET INTENTIONS
It is very easy to get distracted with our day to day routines and distractors that we lose
sight of our goals, endgame and integrity. Before we know it, we are back to being
frustrated, unhappy and overwhelmed. The only way to stay focused on living a life of
integrity is to set daily intentions. Do this every morning. Make sure they are aligned with
your ideal version of your life. Before you know it this will become habit.
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DON’T DO IT ALONE
Contact me. See a naturopathic doctor. Hire a coach. See a counsellor. Support from the
correct people when you are struggling with mental health or charting a new course for your
life is key! Do not be afraid to ask for help.
Hopefully these tips will help you be more whole. Be entire. Be well.
Sign up for our newsletter for more tips like this! And to book an appointment with Dr.
Wiggins click HERE or call 905-892-1318.
-Dr. Jordin
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