One of the hardest steps in tackling any health challenge is reaching out for help. If you are waiting for further support it means you’ve taken that first step – well done. And we all know then waiting feels really difficult. The specialist help is coming, but in the meantime using this Lifestyle As Medicine Programme (LAMP) to think about sleeping better, moving more, eating well, reducing stress, deepening connection and minimising harm can ensure you get to that appointment ready for your ongoing treatment. LAMP is not a replacement for specialist care as identified by your healthcare professional, but it can support you whilst you wait and indeed alongside your treatment and recovery. LAMP is an evidence-based guide developed by CPFT’s Dr. Claire Gillvray. It will lead you through tools that help you to find the healthiest version of yourself – read on to turn the everyday into medicine today.
There are no health conditions that don’t benefit from better sleep! And better doesn’t mean more or less; we often hear a figure of 8 hours per night but actually we are all unique and it’s about finding what is healthy for you. But sleep quality has an extraordinary impact on our physical and mental health, so paying attention to our sleep and making even small improvements can be an excellent thing to focus on whilst we wait for specialist care. Find lots of ways to improve your sleep quality here, on our Sleep Better page.
Moving more doesn’t mean running a marathon – the evidence shows just a small increase in physical activity can bring significant health gains for nearly all of us. It’s almost always beneficial to be more active – but check with your healthcare professional if you have any concerns about whether your health challenges mean you need to take extra care. Find out more on our Move More page.
Research is showing the impact on our physical and mental health of our food choices, completely independent of our body shape. We can really help ourselves whilst waiting for ongoing support by thinking about our nutrition – but kindly! No judgement, no “good” or “bad”, simple shifts towards healthier habits. Take a look at our Eat Well page to find out more.
It is completely understandable to feel stressed when waiting for ongoing care – do you have strategies to support you managing stress? Stress reduction techniques are invaluable whilst waiting, during treatment and indeed to support us living our healthiest lives, so a focus on what works for you is a great future investment. There are lots of suggestions for things to try on our Reduce Stress page.
Connection has been shown to be one of the strongest protective factors for our mental health – but sometimes when we are facing health challenges it can feel a struggle to be around others. Our Deepen Connection page is full of ideas about how to connect not only to other people but also to our surroundings and to ourselves. Plus you will find lots of local activities and support services across the How Are You websites, with helpful information about what to expect when you get there.
We all lean on behaviours that are less positive from time to time. When we are facing a health challenge it can be really helpful to be aware of our negative coping strategies and to shift to kinder ways to cope. Find out more on our Minimise Harm page.
