MEDICALEXAMINER FREE T AKE-HO ME COP Y!
TM
HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS • HEALTH • MEDICINE • WELLNESS
JANUARY 10, 2025
NE W
IE SER
AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • FOUNDED IN 2006
AUGUSTARX.COM
BE IT RESOLVED...
S!
A
THOUGHTS ABOUT
THOUGHTS BODY DYSMORPHIA
Editor’s note: This series written by local mental healthcare professionals will share thoughts about how people think and act in ways that are perceived as different and potentially unhealthy. Caroline is a 23-year-old who has a career, her own apartment and an active social life—who also feels she’s not perfect enough compared to other people. When she looks in a mirror, instead of seeing a pretty face, she sees a nose that’s too big, lips that are too full, and teeth that aren’t white enough. So she turns to plastic surgery. She’s happy with her new nose for a few months, but soon goes back to change her lip size. A few months later, she gets laser therapy to tighten and tone her face. Then, it’s on to veneers. Pictures in magazines and social media tell her she’s still not attractive enough. She spends so much time in front of the mirror, adjusting her hair, makeup and clothing, that it affects her work; she’s either late or spending so much time in the restroom checking herself that coworkers begin to notice. She also starts to skip social situations, convinced she Please see THOUGHTS page 3
re you a New Year’s resolution fan? Or a resolution hater? Both sides in this annual discussion have their valid points. On the negative side, by the time you read this many carefully made resolutions may have already slipped a little. Statistically, by this date (January 10) one quarter of all resolutions have already gone down in flames; that many usually fail within the first week. By the six-month mark the failure rate is about half. And by this time next year, the wreckage of 88 percent of all those shiny new intentions of last week’s New Year’s Day 2025 will lie strewn across the landscape. On the plus side, that means after a full year a fairly decent 12 percent of all resolutions are achieved. Building on that positive note, making New Year’s resolutions is evidence of one of the finest aspects of human nature — that we continuously evaluate ourselves and constantly strive to improve, to be better husbands and wives, better moms and dads, better employees, better bosses, and just better human beings. The typical resolutions reflect those basic desires: the #1 resolution every year is always some form of better health. Lose weight. Get more exercise. Eat less junk food or fast food.
Eat less, period. Quit smoking. Drink less, or quit altogether. You really can’t fault anyone for such noble goals. After all, health is the ultimate wealth. It’s the currency that makes every other endeavor in life possible. Speaking of currency, improving finances is, broadly speaking, the second most popular resolution category. Common examples include establishing and/or sticking to a budget; saving more; cutting impulse buys; getting a better job, a raise, or a promotion. The third-most common resolutions might be categorized as self-improvement: read more; anger management; reduce or manage stress; watch less TV; get more education: learn a new language, skill, or hobby; improve your marriage and other personal relationships, and so forth. All of these are worthy goals. They are well worth pursuing, even if that means getting past occasional setbacks. Since failure is always an option, it’s good to expect it and be ready to keep making progress. There is nothing magical about January 1. If you haven’t made some kind of self-improvement goal, it’s never too late. If you’ve started and failed already, restarts are always allowed. Whatever you set your sights on, keep the letters shown below in mind, as well as what Please see RESOLVED page 5
S
M
A
R
T
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-specific
HAPPY USE PRACTICE MANAGERS OUR GROUP SCRUB ORDERING PROGRAM Simple • Convenient • On-Site • Free Consultation & Logo Set Up • Free Delivery
SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MORE INFORMATION!
4158 WASHINGTON RD (ACROSS FROM CLUB CAR) • (706) 364.1163 • SCRUBSOFEVANS.COM