Since early 9th century, St Patrick’s Day is a well-known Irish holiday celebrated on March 17th According to folklore, St Patrick, an Irish priest, used the shamrock to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the local pagan Irish.
The shamrock has three separate leaves which are united by one common stem just as the Trinity has three separated entities united by one common purpose. Today the wearing and displaying of shamrocks has become a unique feature of St. Patrick’s Day. But the concept of three separate entities united by one common stem can be a helpful symbol of balance for us all to consider.
Good mental health has three leaves called a bio-psycho-social approach. When all three leaves are healthy the client or stem functions well.
Bio
Short for biology, meaning it is important to look at the biological reasons the body responds the way it does. Often solutions for clients with a biological problem include a pharmaceutical approach using drugs such as anti-depressants or mood stabilizers to eliminate distressful symptoms. Diet and exercise are also important to maintain optimal health. But I rarely find a depressed or anxious client who doesn’t eat a diet loaded with carbs and sugar.
Psycho
Short for psychological. Frequently clients respond to therapy designed to increase personal insight. Exaggerated thoughts, black and white thinking and catastrophic forecasting all create unnecessary stress and or depression. Under the care of a professional, new patterns can be developed providing new ways of looking at events Your thoughts really do influence your moods But you may need an unbiased 3rd party help you understand your thoughts are not reality. . You don’t have to believe everything you think!
Social
Social is the third leaf. It is helpful to look at a client’s social support networks such as family and friends. As the Beatles sang, “I get by with a little help from our friends.” During therapy, we examine how a client’s support system can be reinforced and strengthen a client in a difficult period. Or if the environment is harmful, we help the client find new support systems to insure recovery.
Good emotional health involves three key elements or leaves holding it together. If it were just meds needed to manage moods, we could put it in the water, and everyone would feel better. But we need to have good friends, accurate thinking patterns and sometimes medication to insure our emotional wellness.
So, kiss the Irish, and thank them for the clover, a symbol of a balanced lifestyle!
CAMILLE CURTIS FOSTER
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