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Editor’s note: This commentary is provided by the Medical Mar- ijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI) of Florida A&M University.
Anyone who does something to feel better, either mentally or physically, or both, is experienc- ing “self-care.” That term would seem to be self-explanatory, however, it’s open to interpreta- tion. Getting a manicure might be someone’s way of alleviating stress, while going for a long walk could be another’s pre- ferred method for realizing the same benefits.
“Essentially, self-care is more of a conscientious decision to prioritize yourself and deal with the things that are really the foundation for a lot of the stress that we feel on the surface. Peo- ple don't associate this with self- care,” explains Dr. Alishea Rowley, a mental health clini- cian and associate professor in counselor education at Florida A&M University (FAMU).
Neuropsychologist Dr. Gwendolyn Singleton, asso- ciate professor and chair of FAMU’s Department of Psychol- ogy, agrees and says there are significant benefits to practicing intentional self-care.
“Research has shown that it decreases blood pressure. It can improve our cognitive process- ing along with how well we sleep, our thinking, our relation- ships, because we're calmer, we're positive, we're happier. It helps us to balance so many as- pects of our lives. I strongly urge everyone, if you're not engaging in self-care intentionally, iden- tify some intentional practices to engage in starting today,” Sin- gleton said.
But you don’t have to take the “self” part literally. You may need to get help with improving your overall well-being, whether through expert advice on nutri- tion, with medical marijuana treatments or with therapy.
Dr. Genester Wilson- King is a firm believer in taking a natural approach to health- care. She is a board-certified ob- stetrician and gynecologist who provides integrative wellness at the Victory Rejuvenation Center in Lake Mary near Orlando. In addition to advising her patients to eat real food, drink clean water and breathe fresh air, as a qualified medical marijuana physician in Florida, Dr. Wil- son-King has helped hundreds of her patients make legal cannabis and CBD treatments part of their self-care regimens.
Cannabis And ‘Self-Care’ Can Work Well Together
East Tampa Academy Appoints Community Icon As Director
DR. ALISHEA ROWLEY
[SIDE BAR: In Florida, a quali- fied medical marijuana physi- cian can recommend low-THC cannabis treatments to patients who have a “qualifying condi- tion” and a medical marijuana card. For more information on qualifying conditions and how to obtain a medical marijuana card, go to the Florida Depart- ment of Health's Office of Med- ical Marijuana Use website at https://knowthefactsmmj.com.]
“There are many self-care practices that cannabis can help with,” says Wilson-King. “One of the main reasons to use it is for REM (rapid eye movement) sleep which really helps heal, re- pair and rejuvenate your body. Oftentimes, sleep medicines will not get you into REM sleep. They just zonk you out. Low- dose cannabis does not disrupt the sleep architecture.”
She says insomnia is often caused by other medical issues, such as pain and anxieties, that medical marijuana also is effec- tive at treating.
“You can't have a quality life or practice self-care if you are in pain. Cannabis is very effective for pain relief. Cannabis is very helpful for anxiety. Cannabis is very helpful for depression, too,” said Wilson-King.
Dr. Singleton’s concern over medical cannabis treat- ments is their potential for side effects, which could stem from dosing amounts and interac- tions with other drugs or alco- hol. “It's so critical that individuals work closely with their physicians because the way our brains respond to sub- stances will vary,” she says.
All of the doctors stress the importance self-care plays in es- tablishing a better quality of life. Dr. Rowley, who has more than 15 years of experience as a
DR. GWENDOLYN SINGLETON
DR. GENESTER WILSON-KING
mental health counselor, recom- mends visiting a therapist as part of a self-care routine.
“We've gone through a very, very difficult time with COVID. If people are having mental health disturbances, a therapist is someone they can talk to and get some of that toxicity out of their system.”
She also has a message for men dealing with emotional dis- turbances.
“We need to have more con- versations about men and self- care because men deal with anxiety and depression issues, too. As a matter of fact, they're more likely to have emotional disturbances that are not treated. So, we have to make it socially acceptable to have these conversations that encourage men to seek treatment for their mental health.”
For more information on medical marijuana and to sign up for the MMERI newsletter, go to http://mmeri.famu.edu.
Born a native of Tampa, Florida, Dr. Ron Anderson is not foreign to the East Tampa Community. As a product of the Hillsborough County School System, he graduated from Jef- ferson High School. Through his year of matriculation, he earned his B. A. degree from US, a MBA from Strayer, his MPA Tampa College, and his Doctorate from North Carolina College of The- ology.
Dr. Ronald Anderson was appointed as the 2021-2022 Di- rector for East Tampa Academy Charter School in July. Dr. An- derson’s multitude of experi- ence is the perfect fit for East Tampa Academy Charter School. There is not an area that he is not familiar with especially when it comes to guiding and leading others.
In brief, he is a former Law Enforcement Deputy for Hills- borough County Sherriff’s De- partment, Social
Worker for Hillsborough County B. O. C. C., Remington department chair of Criminal Justice, Adjunct Professor, Teacher for Hillsborough County School District, and the Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Tabernacle, Port Tampa.
Dr. Anderson expressed that “this is fortuity for me to come back to serve my commu- nity. I have always had a passion for education. More important, educating children and families which is the segway to empower and impact our millenniums. It is also my duty to establish part- nerships with parents, build business relationships as well as create resources within the com- munity.
“There are many times I have heard the complaints from indi- viduals, about how we do not have a voice in education and we have been somewhat silenced. However, I see this opportunity
DR. RON ANDERSON ...NEW DIRECTOR OF EAST TAMPA ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL
as a stepping stone to recon- necting, restoring, and reclaim- ing the value of education. I am here to prepare our children for the world, not just the next grade level.
“These are the developmen- tal years for East Tampa Acad- emy. As we provide students with comprehensive education it will lead to student success. Therefore, it is time to rebuild on the roots of community learning, the redevelopment of culture, If this generation fails it’s because we have failed them.”
Dr. Anderson continued, “East Tampa Academy will con- tinue to grow and excel through talented, caring, compassionate teachers. Although this year has been a challenge in the midst of the pandemic, I still have unwa- vering commitment to children and education. East Tampa Academy is a Hillsborough County Public School located in the heart of East Tampa; we are currently enrolling students 4-8 years old, grades of V.P.K, K –2. If we work together we can pre- pare students and families for a more promising future,” Dr. Anderson concluded.
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