What does “Holistic” even mean?

What is holistic health? Is it just about the food we eat and how much exercise we engage in? 

During the process of becoming certified as an Intuitive Eating counselor, my perspective of true holistic health crystallized in a way that it never had before.

When I was engaged in orthorexic behavior (Orthorexia = an excessive preoccupation with eating healthy food), I was sure that every single bite was a life or death sentence and would solely determine the quality of my health.

I completely ignored other determinants of health. 

Specifically I was undermining the effect my mental health was having on my overall health.

All of which was compounded by trauma, life stressors, oppression and socio-economic factors. 

I always knew there was a connection between mind and body, but it wasn’t until I began my own healing journey that I understood just how strong that connection is.

Gabor Mate’s book “The Myth of Normal,” claims we can’t address disease without looking into our mental health.

The book details the impact trauma has on specific health conditions. There’s both research and anecdotal accounts shared in the book.

For those of us struggling with a health condition, this might trigger feelings of shame and guilt.

But from me to you, know that this in no way implies that you brought it on yourself. Rather, it’s an opportunity to look at all of our health, not just the physical symptoms.

I’m looking forward to learning more about how to  treat and/or prevent health conditions through a trauma-informed perspective. 

Curious to know, what is your picture of holistic health?