Thrive Through the Holidays: Your Guide to Physical and Mental Wellness

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This November, gratitude fills the halls of Westside Family Health Center (WFHC). We appreciate our dedicated team and the patients who make WFHC their healthcare home. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let's cherish moments with loved ones, recognizing the value of connection and shared joy. Together, as a community devoted to health and well-being, we embrace the spirit of thankfulness that unites us all.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Amidst the whirlwind of holiday festivities, we are pausing to reflect on well-being, the foundation for our lives. This November, as healthcare providers across the nation spotlight diabetes, here are a few facts to consider....

💉 Diabetes occurs when the pancreas struggles to produce sufficient insulin (known as type 1) or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it generates (known as type 2). Left untreated, elevated blood glucose levels can wreak havoc on the body, impacting nerves and blood vessels.

💉 More than 1 in 3 adults—96 million people—have prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are elevated, though not enough for a diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes is a precursor to type 2, the most prevalent form of diabetes.

💉 From heart disease and stroke to nerve damage, kidney impairment, eye issues, and beyond, the potential complications are extensive. Diabetes is not merely a singular health concern; it's a complex web that can impact our overall well-being, contributing to conditions such as foot damage, skin issues, hearing impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and even depression.

💉 While type 1 diabetes is still unpreventable, there's hope and proactive measures that can be taken to address prediabetes. Embracing a lifestyle that includes healthy eating habits, increased physical activity, and maintaining a healthy body weight can significantly mitigate the risk and progression of prediabetes.

WFHC provides chronic disease management for health issues such as diabetes and high blood pressure! Schedule your appointment today by calling 310.450.2191

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Thriving During the Holidays

The holiday season is exciting, but it can also add stress that impacts our mental well-being. Prioritizing mental health at the end of the year is a wonderful way to prepare ourselves to enter a new one. WFHC's mental health provider Stephanie Morgan shares some tools for thriving through this holiday season.

🧠 Choose your people

"Some people come from really dysfunctional families and spending time with their families brings out this dysfunction. Some folks are estranged from their families, so this time of year is hard because there is so much emphasis on spending time with family. It is important to remember the idea of a Chosen Family and to cultivate your own safe group of people.

🧠 Give yourself grace

"The holidays mark the end of another calendar year and any time we close a chapter there is a natural inflection point. It is easy to get down on ourselves for the things we didn’t accomplish this year. It has been a hard couple of years, and it is easy to internalize blame and judgment for things not going our way."

🧠 Learn to say "No"

"Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries. Believe that “no” is a complete sentence. Allow yourself to decline invitations, set a time you are going to leave or take a support person with you. Hold space for yourself and have compassion for yourself for whatever feelings you may be having because it is okay to have them."

Stephanie Morgan is an Associate Clinical Social Worker who approaches therapy from a lens that encourages increased self-compassion and reduced self-judgment, integrating cognitive reframing and more positive self-talk. Stephanie puts particular emphasis on social justice and supporting the LGBTQIA+ youth community.

Call (310) 450-2191 to schedule an appointment with WFHC's mental health team.

Self-Care for Holiday Harmony

Carving out time for self-care is easier said than done, and it's important to recognize that there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Self-care can take many forms—whether it's a brief stroll or sharing your thoughts with a friend. What matters most is not your activity, but your mindset. Here are some tips to get you started...

🍁 Be gentle with yourself and foster a kind inner dialogue

🍁 Write a gratitude list and offer thanks

🍁 Go for a walk outside

🍁 Recite Affirmations

🍁 Prioritize sleep

🍁 Pamper yourself

🍁 Let go of expectations

🍁 Spend time in nature

🍁 Practice relaxation through deep breathing, meditation, or sitting quietly

🍁 Do something fun that taps into your sense of play

Spooky Delights: Halloween Fun Unleashed at Westside

This year, the entire WFHC team celebrated Halloween with a costume and door decorating contest and themed decorations throughout the building. Can you recognize who is behind those masks?

"Cereal Killer"

Cindi Berns,

Director of Development

"Steve Harvey"

Toya Sanders,

Dental Assistant

"Giant Baby"

Emilio Amezquita,

Medical Assistant

"Super Mario Bros"

Nayeli Campos, Medical Assistant and Lee Mancilla, Physician Assistant

"The Nun"

Met Tuason,

Medical Biller

"Clown"

Ignacio Tamayo,

Medical Assistant

Operations Door

HR Door

Patient Care Department Door

Make an Ongoing Impact

Streamline your giving and make an ongoing impact by becoming a monthly donor. It's easy to sign up online; enter your monthly donation amount and then scroll down to enter your contact and payment information.

Please contact Cindi Berns, Director of Development, if you need assistance or further information at (310) 450-4773 x 254. or cberns@wfhcenter.org

In good health,

Your Friends at Westside Family Health Center