We are in a new year, and this is the time when everyone is trying to take it to the next level.

The best way to elevate your life is to make sure you have a solid foundation, and that is what we are discussing this week.

Welcome back to Savvy Psychologist. I'm your host, Dr. Monica Johnson. Every week on this show, I'll help you face life's challenges,

with evidence-based approaches, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

I haven't done an acronym in a while, and it seems like an appropriate start to the year, because you know how much I love them.

Today, we're going to discuss the DBT skill of Please, which is designed to reduce your vulnerability to negative emotions.

Many of those who suffer from depression, anxiety, trauma histories, etc, fail to adequately engage in the five areas that I'm going to talk about today.

If you neglect your body, it will have a negative impact on your mental and emotional well-being.

Moreover, all those lofty goals or discoveries you want to make about your existence may fall flat if you don't have these elements in order.

The PL and Please stands for Treating Physical Illness. Physical illness is linked to mental illness, and physical illness may cause mental health issues.

At the very least, physical illness exacerbates mental illness. There have been studies done that looked at the mortality rates of those with various mental health conditions.

They found an increased risk of death in conditions like depression, substance misuse, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia to name a few.

It's important when you're feeling ill to take it seriously and treat yourself with compassion.

This can range from a simple headache or cold to that unexplained physical issue you've been having and ignoring.

I can't tell you how many times in my life I've asked ill patients if they've taken basic over-the-counter medicine and discovered that they haven't.

Other patients will explain severe pain or other concerning symptoms from an unknown cause that has been going on for months.

Do you want to take a guess if they've made the effort to go to the doctor?

When your immune system is impaired, it will not only leave you vulnerable to more physical health issues, it will have a negative impact on your mental health as well.

Don't be dismissive about how you're feeling physically.

The first E stands for Balanced Eating. We all know that emotional eating is a thing.

In fact, when we look at the symptoms of depression, such as changes in appetite, low energy, and changes in weight,

it would make sense to you that these are also linked to things such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity, which impact our overall mortality.

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