health
winning
Member Services
Luis Aguilar
Health Education Lupe Gonzalez, PhD, MPH
Editor
Steven Lalich
Chief Medical Officer
Albert Reeves, MD
Copyright © 2014 Coffey Communications WHN30192
WINNING HEALTH is published as a community service for the
friends and patrons of GOLD COAST HEALTH PLAN, 2220 E.
Gonzales Road, Oxnard, CA 93036, telephone 888-301-1228.
Information in WINNING HEALTH comes from a wide range of
medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about
specific content that may affect your health, please contact your
health care Provider.
Models may be used in photos and illustrations.
healthy mind
Mental health:
Key to your well-being
W
ellness is a lot more
than not being sick. Yes,
your body’s health is
important. But so is the health of
your mind.
Mental health is how your
thoughts and feelings a ect your
life. People with good mental health
tend to make decisions that they
are happy with. ey deal more
easily with life’s hurdles.
How’s your mental health? Some
signs can point to a problem that
could get better with medical help.
Examples of these signs are:
Finding little joy in life or feeling
worthless or guilty.
problem if it a ects any part of
your life.
What are the risks?
Drinking
clouds your judgment and slows
your brain function. at means
you’re more likely to be hurt in
an accident. You might also do
something you regret later.
Alcohol also harms the body. It
raises your risk of certain cancers,
stroke and liver disease.
Warning signs.
People who
have a problem with alcohol:
Think about drinking much of
the time.
Have tried but can’t cut back or
quit on their own.
Often drink more than they say
When drinking becomes a problem
M
aybe a friend has worried
about how much you
drink. Or you might miss
work or school because of drinking
too much.
A drinking problem isn’t always
easy to spot—or admit to. But
those are two of the many signs
that point to trouble.
And the fact is: Alcohol is a
Crying without knowing why.
Intense worries or fears.
Low energy or anger are-ups.
Mood swings—feeling very high,
then very low.
Seeing or hearing things that
aren’t there.
If you have symptoms like these,
let your Provider know. He or she
will help you get care that can help
you feel better. at might include
talking with a mental health expert
and taking medicine.
Some people think they should
be able to handle these types of
issues on their own—and that it’s
a sign of weakness if they don’t.
