HealthyLife Articles

Tag: community

Friends Help Friends Through Addiction

Substance Use & Abuse

Support and gentle guidance may be key to recovery.

It’s hard to be supportive and caring when you’re watching a person you love destroy him or herself with drugs and/or alcohol. People who abuse alcohol or other drugs may not be able to admit they have a problem. If family members or friends have a drug problem, help them to help themselves.

Be supportive and caring.

For most addicts, bullying them into treatment doesn’t work.

Offer help on your terms.

You want to help the person get clean and sober, not support the habit. Tolerate the struggle, not the abuse.

Encourage the person to seek professional help.

* Offer to go with him or her to a health care provider visit.

* Provide phone numbers and websites for places that can help, such as: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – 800.662.HELP (662.4357)www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

* Find out if his or her workplace has an Employee Assistance Program for drug abuse. If it does, remind the person that what is said to a counselor is kept confidential.

If your friend chooses rehab, let him or her know you will continue to be supportive. If the person refuses to seek help, contact a health care professional for advice on ways best suited to help him or her get the care that is needed.

Offer to go with him or her to a local support group.

Alcoholics Anonymous

212.870.3400

www.aa.org

Cocaine Anonymous

310.559.5833

www.ca.org

Narcotics Anonymous

818.773.9999

www.na.org

Action Step

Be patient. Addiction does a lot of damage. During the rehab process, that damage is unraveling. It takes time.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Get Fit For A Cause

Fitness

Join a charity walk, run, or bike ride.

If you are struggling to find a reason to get off your duff and exercise, go online and find a cause that interests you – Alzheimer’s disease, animal welfare, breast cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, etc. Chances are there is a fitness-related fund-raiser in your area that will inspire you to get fit and soothe your soul.

Don’t sign on the dotted line just yet.

* Pick a cause and/or activity (cycling, running, dance-a-thon) that will keep you interested.

* Find out the minimum amount of money you need to raise to participate. If you can’t afford it, are you willing to ask friends, family and co-workers to donate?

* Ask the organization how much of your actual donation goes to the cause, stays in your community, and is used to pay salaries of employees?

* Do a background check (www.guidestar.com) on the organization to make sure it’s legitimate.

* Find out how much training is involved. Do you have the time and devotion to stick with it?

Volunteer.

If you’re not interested in fund-raising or can’t commit to the extensive training needed to prepare for a marathon or a three-day walk, there are other ways you can still give to your community and get fit in the process.

* Volunteer at an area food bank that needs help picking up and delivering donations.

* Mow the lawn of an elderly neighbor every week.

* Become a sports coach for the local school or recreation department.

* Take part in community cleanup days.

* Help build a home for a needy family.

* Shovel snow off the sidewalks of family, friends, or neighbors who are not able to do this strenuous task.

Action Step

Fitness is also about the mind and the spirit. Find something to do that satisfies your desire to be fit, as well as your passion to make a positive difference in your community.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Contribute To Your Community

Social Health

Gallup surveys show people with higher personal well-being are more likely to say they give time, money, or help to others in their communities.

Volunteering is linked with many health benefits:

* Less chronic pain

* Lower rate of heart disease

* Lower rate of depression, especially for persons age 60 and older

* Lower death rates

Find out about many ways to help others from Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America fromnationalservice.gov.

Research the organization’s goals and needs. Find out how much of your time is required.

Don’t over commit to projects that you cannot handle.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Blood Donation

Medical Care

Giving blood is very safe.

Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Approximately 29,000 blood donations are needed every day.

To donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh more than 110 pounds and be in good health. Find out about other guidelines for donating blood fromredcross.org.

Giving blood is very safe. Sterile procedures are followed. When you donate blood, you cannot get HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

If you are going to have surgery and may need blood, you can give your own blood ahead of time. This is called autologous blood transfusion.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Contribute To Your Community 2

Social Health

Both you and others benefit.

Gallup surveys in 130 countries show people with higher personal well-being are more likely to say they give time, money, or help to others in their communities. A community can be:

* Your neighborhood, city, county, state, or country

* Your place of worship

* Societies or groups you belong to

Benefits of Volunteering

In general, volunteers reported higher levels of happiness, life-satisfaction, self-esteem, and a sense of control over life. Studies have shown a strong link between volunteering and health benefits. Two hours a week, about 100 hours a year, is the number that is linked to the following benefits:

* Less chronic pain

* Lower rates of heart disease

* Lower rates of depression, especially for volunteers age 60 and older

* Lower death rates

One study of alcoholics going through the Alcoholics Anonymous program found that those who helped others were nearly twice as likely to stay dry a year later. Their levels of depression were lower, too.

Besides health benefits, volunteering can help you learn job and social skills. You can also take part in activities that you enjoy and find rewarding.

There are many ways to give to your community.

Choose activities that you enjoy, that you are able to do, and that fit with the organization’s needs. Things to consider:

* Donate household goods and clothing.

* Volunteer at church and community functions.

* Deliver meals to people at home. Work in a soup kitchen or food bank.

* Start a community garden or help plant or harvest one.

* Help in building a house for a family in need through Habitat for Humanity.

* Be a support person for people with the same health problem you have.

* Mentor a child.

* Coach a children’s team.

* Become a Big Brother or Big Sister.

* Volunteer for disaster relief services through local groups or the Red Cross.

* Donate your frequent flier miles to Make a Wish Foundation.

* Give money to a needy cause.

Action Step

Find out a variety of ways to help others in your community from Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America at

www.nationalservice.gov.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Help Others And Let Others Help You

Social Health

* Attend a support group with others who share the same health problem you have.

* Volunteer in a soup kitchen or food bank.

* Take care of your friend’s or family member’s children and let them return the favor.

* Call, text, email, or visit a friend today. Let your friend know how much they mean to you.

Dos

* Share your feelings with trusted relatives and friends.

* Vent your feelings and give and get support on social media networks.

Don’ts

* Don’t let your emotions get “bottled up inside.”

* Don’t post any messages or photos that you would want an employer or stranger to see.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Volunteer

Social Health

Volunteer work is one way to reduce stress and negative emotions.

Volunteer work puts the focus on others and less on your problems. Studies suggest it also boosts “feel-good” hormones and social connections, which are powerful stress busters.

Be a mentor for a child. Deliver meals on wheels. Volunteer your time at your church, library, or local senior center.

You may also think about volunteering at an animal shelter, as a lifeguard, or do social media for a local community organization.

Helping others helps you in other ways, too. When you volunteer, you are building skills and your network, which may help you advance your career. It also helps you grow personally by doing something fulfilling, which can add purpose and meaning to your life.

Find out places that need volunteers fromvolunteer.govandPointsofLight.org.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Where To Go For Help

Mental Health Care

Once the decision to seek professional help has been made, the following are places you can go.

* Your personal or primary care doctor (to rule out any physical illness first)

* Your confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

* Your Student Counseling Center. (Most colleges provide free counseling services for their students. Some limit the number of sessions. After that number is reached, students may still need to locate a private therapist for continued treatment.)

* Family members, friends, or co-workers n Your religious advisor (i.e., priest, rabbi, minister)

* Your County Mental Health Department (search for this online or in the white pages section under Government Offices). Contacting them is especially important if you have no health insurance.

* Professional organizations, such as your state’s psychiatric, psychological counseling, or social work associations

* Community mental health centers and/or hospitals. Ask for their departments of psychiatry, psychology, social work, or their crisis center.

* Community agencies, such as Catholic Social Services, Jewish Vocational Services, Family Services Agency, etc.

* Crisis Intervention Centers – especially if you need help immediately. Check online for local listings under “Crisis,” “Suicide Prevention,” “Drug Abuse,” “Rape,” “Domestic Violence,” or “Hospitals.”

* Self-help groups and local campus or national organizations for specific disorders. Examples include: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Agoraphobics in Motion (AIM), National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Overeaters Anonymous (OA), Gamblers Anonymous (GA).

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Build Social Connections

WELL-BEING

Humans need social contact. Having good social connections can help you feel better and live a healthier life. These are some ways to meet people and have fun with others.

* Join a group or class. Book clubs, wood carving, music and hiking are a few options.

* Get involved. Attend a neighborhood clean-up or gardening effort.

* Volunteer. A local charity, library or hospital may need your help.

Source: National Institutes of Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Crossfit Faq

BE FIT

CrossFit is a high-intensity strength and conditioning workout. It emphasizes dynamic exercises such as Olympic lifting, plyometrics, and kettlebells.

Who can do CrossFit?

CrossFit can be modified for a variety of ages and fitness levels. There are even CrossFit classes for kids and seniors.

Is CrossFit safe?

Because CrossFit is a high-intensity form of exercise, it may not be the best choice for everyone. Check with your doctor to make sure CrossFit is right for you.

What are the benefits of CrossFit?

Regular CrossFit workouts can build strength and improve cardiovascular endurance. It counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity exercise.

Are there risks to CrossFit?

Any form of high-intensity exercise carries the potential for injury. To reduce your risk, get clearance from your doctor first and remember to increase gradually.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026