HALT and Health Care
If one is active and working with a sponsor in a 12-step program one will frequently hear that one needs to be especially vigilant about symptoms of not taking care of oneself - HALT – hungry, angry, lonely, tired. Our body functions much like our bank account. We make deposits and we make withdrawals. Of course, as with our bank account, there are times when we need to withdraw more and other days when we withdraw less.
Although our bodies always let us know when we are spending more emotional, spiritual, nutritional and spiritual energy than we have been depositing, unlike the monetary bank, it may “tolerate” deficit spending for some time. Our bodies will not function as well but we can “keep going”. If one has a history of self- sabotaging behavior, when we are deficit spending that behavior may begin to reappear.
If one can do simple arithmetic, one can keep track of one’s energy bank account. Let’s start with 100 units of energy. Assume that we spend the following amounts in a typical day:
Units of energy deposited:
We have already spent 5 more than we take in. What happens if we begin to skip healthy meals x 3, exercise, spiritual exercises or
time with healthy friends? In a few days, we are deficit spending at a faster rate and our body is going to let us know that it is unhappy.
If we are like many others in the United States, we start to feel tired or just “off” and eventually go to the doctor who may order some medical tests. If no definitive medical issue is identified the doctor may diagnose depression or anxiety. The doctor may not access the status of our energy bank account. If he or she does, then they might tell us that the symptoms we are experiencing are a healthy response to deficit spending of energy.
Yesterday I saw a person who was not exercising, not eating healthy meals, not getting much emotional support and not doing much to feed himself spiritually. He thought his clinical depression was worse. Actually, I am sure that the clinical depression was worse, but he does not need medication. He needs to start putting more in his energy bank account. If he is unable to do that because his body cannot deal with the clinical depression, then medication might be helpful to jump start his body. Once he begins to regularly take care of himself he may be able to reduce or get off the medication. In the case of this young man he wants to try to start taking care of himself without medication. I suspect, given his history, he will be able to do so. We will keep in daily contact to see how he is doing.
We all, on occasion, experience HALT – hungry, angry, lonely, tired. These are often symptoms of deficit spending of energy. The goal is to be very intentional about the status of our energy bank account. If we are not deficit spending our body may be letting us know there is some other medical issue which needs attention.
Written January 9, 2018
If one is active and working with a sponsor in a 12-step program one will frequently hear that one needs to be especially vigilant about symptoms of not taking care of oneself - HALT – hungry, angry, lonely, tired. Our body functions much like our bank account. We make deposits and we make withdrawals. Of course, as with our bank account, there are times when we need to withdraw more and other days when we withdraw less.
Although our bodies always let us know when we are spending more emotional, spiritual, nutritional and spiritual energy than we have been depositing, unlike the monetary bank, it may “tolerate” deficit spending for some time. Our bodies will not function as well but we can “keep going”. If one has a history of self- sabotaging behavior, when we are deficit spending that behavior may begin to reappear.
If one can do simple arithmetic, one can keep track of one’s energy bank account. Let’s start with 100 units of energy. Assume that we spend the following amounts in a typical day:
- Preparing for the day. 5 units
- Work 25 units
- Dealing with family issue 10 units
- Dealing with common cold 10 units
- Home/parenting chores 15 units
Units of energy deposited:
- Healthy meal x 3 eaten in a relaxed setting 15 units
- Exercise 10 units
- 8 hours of restful sleep 5 units
- Spiritual time 10 units
- Time with healthy friends – 35 minutes 20 units
We have already spent 5 more than we take in. What happens if we begin to skip healthy meals x 3, exercise, spiritual exercises or
time with healthy friends? In a few days, we are deficit spending at a faster rate and our body is going to let us know that it is unhappy.
If we are like many others in the United States, we start to feel tired or just “off” and eventually go to the doctor who may order some medical tests. If no definitive medical issue is identified the doctor may diagnose depression or anxiety. The doctor may not access the status of our energy bank account. If he or she does, then they might tell us that the symptoms we are experiencing are a healthy response to deficit spending of energy.
Yesterday I saw a person who was not exercising, not eating healthy meals, not getting much emotional support and not doing much to feed himself spiritually. He thought his clinical depression was worse. Actually, I am sure that the clinical depression was worse, but he does not need medication. He needs to start putting more in his energy bank account. If he is unable to do that because his body cannot deal with the clinical depression, then medication might be helpful to jump start his body. Once he begins to regularly take care of himself he may be able to reduce or get off the medication. In the case of this young man he wants to try to start taking care of himself without medication. I suspect, given his history, he will be able to do so. We will keep in daily contact to see how he is doing.
We all, on occasion, experience HALT – hungry, angry, lonely, tired. These are often symptoms of deficit spending of energy. The goal is to be very intentional about the status of our energy bank account. If we are not deficit spending our body may be letting us know there is some other medical issue which needs attention.
Written January 9, 2018
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