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Improving your self-esteem

Spirituality and healthy ageing

In Okinawa there is a unique approach to health and life based on centuries of eastern tradition and wisdom. It encompasses diet, exercise, a stress reducing psycho-spiritual outlook and supportive practices and the successful integration of eastern and Western healthcare.

Spirituality in its' wider sense is a term that is not necessarily about religious beliefs but more about feeling happy and having a high self esteem. It is about feeling positive and satisfied with life. Coping and dealing with stress in a positive manner plays a major role in slowing down the process of aging. Spirituality means being tolerant and accepting of others, effectively handling stress, good management of moods, even tempered, self sufficient, self-reliant and feeling good about oneself.

Research shows:

Older people with a strong sense of spirituality - of personal meaning in life - are less likely to be depressed.

Faith positively affects one's health.

There is a clear association between level of belief, personal meaning, and well being. Those who had weaker beliefs were much more likely to have symptoms of depression.

People with a sense of spirituality have far fewer mental health problems than others.

Those with the weakest beliefs had the most difficulty adjusting to bereavement, showing more symptoms of depression.

Older adults who are religious or spiritual tend to fare better when they're hospitalised with an illness.

Hospitalised adults aged 50 or older who belonged to an organized religion tended to have better health and were better able to perform day-to-day activities like getting around and doing household chores.

Daily functioning was also better in older adults who said they were spiritual, but did not participate in an organized group.

People who were religious or spiritual tended to have better social support, showed fewer symptoms of depression, and had better mental functioning.

Faith may help people make sense of why they are sick and may give a sense of meaning to suffering.

The extra support from other members of their spiritual community is also likely to help, and having faith may often deter them from taking on unhealthy behaviours that people turn to when stressed, such as drinking and smoking.

For further advice on depression, stress or other mental health issues, please contact your GP.

The Waltham Forest smoking cessation help line telephone number is 020 8928 2443.

The Samaritans in Waltham Forest can be contacted on 020 8520 9191.

Alcoholics Anonymous national help line 0845 7697 555.

For further information on the Waltham Forest Healthy Ageing Programme Age Concern Waltham Forest 020 8539 8356 or e-mail j.williams@ageconcernwf.org.uk .